From October 2008, Employment and Support Allowance replaces Incapacity Benefit and Income Support paid on incapacity grounds for new claimants.
IS is a weekly benefit that can be paid on top of other money you have coming in (up to certain limits).
The amount of IS you get depends on things like how much money you have coming in, your age, health, disability and savings.
Extra amounts can be included as part of IS for disability.
Who can claim
You can claim Income Support if:
- you are aged 16 to 59 (if you or your partner are over 60, see Pension Credit), and
- you are on a low income
- you do not work or work an average of less than 16 hours a week, or
- you are unable to work because of illness or disability, and
- your partner (if you have one) is not working more than 24 hours a week, and
- your savings are £16,000 or less.
If you claim IS because you are unfit for work you will have to pass an incapacity test and complete a questionnaire to assess your fitness for work. You will also need to claim Incapacity Benefit.
Parents: Want to claim IS?
Then you must make a separate claim for Child Tax Credit as well. IS only includes money for adults. If you are already on IS and still get additional money for your kids as part of this payment, you do not have to do anything. You will be transferred to Child Tax Credit automatically at a future date.
How to claim
Contact your local Jobcentre Plus office (see link to the right) for a form and return it within a month.
If you have an illness or disability:
If you do not get Income Support when you first become sick, you may be able to get it if you are still sick after a year. Call Greenwich Welfare Rights Service for advice about this.
More information
Contact Greenwich Welfare Rights Service using the number on the right or our online enquiry form.
Further information can also be found in the leaflet, Benefits if you are sick or disabled.