Benefits If Your Income Is Low

.: Income - based Jobseeker's allowance (JSA) and income support:.....

.: What are they?

Weekly payments for people who are not in work and do not have enough to live on. If your family income falls below a set level the benefit will 'top it up'. This means that you may be able to get Income Support even if you are already getting Statutory Maternity Pay, Maternity Allowance, Incapacity Benefit or some income from part-time work.

.: Who gets them?

You can claim income-based JSA if you are 18 or over and you are actively seeking work.
Usually you would claim this benefit if you are living with your partner and you are both either unemployed or working part time. You should also claim it if you are single and unemployed but your baby has not been born yet. If you are 16—17 and face severe hardship you may be able to claim before your baby is born.

You should get further advice about this. You can claim Income Support if you are 16 or over and cannot be available for work. This would be because you are a single parent or because you are 29 weeks pregnant or more. You may also get Income Support if you are single and pregnant and you are too sick to work. You cannot claim income-based JSA or Income Support If you have a partner who lives with you and works for 24 hours or more a week,
if you work for more than 16 hours a week, or if you have savings of more than £8000.

.: How much is it?

This depends on your age and the size of your family, and on what other income you have. If you are under 25 or have more than £3000 in savings you get a lower rate. If you're claiming during pregnancy you should let the Benefits Agency/Social Security Agency know as soon as the baby is born, as your benefit will go up. For example:-

• If you are a single parent aged 18 or over with one baby and no savings, you would be allowed an income of per week.

This means that any weekly income you already have (such as Child Benefit) would be topped up to the Income Support
level for your family.

• If you are in a couple and one or both of you is aged 18 or over, you have one baby and no savings, you would be allowed
  an income of £129.20 per week.

This means that any weekly income you already have (such as Child Benefit) would be topped up to the income-based JSA level for your
family.

.: How do I claim?

To claim income-based JSA before your baby is born, you or your partner must both go to the Jobcentre in person (you may be able to claim by post if you live a long way from the Jobcentre). After your baby is born you will no longer need to sign on. Your partner can continue to claim for you and the baby. To claim Income Support, fill in form Al which you may get from a post office or a Benefits Agency. Return the form to your local Benefits Agency/Social Security Agency (social security office). The benefit is paid directly into your bank account, or by Giro, or by a book of orders which you cash at the post office. If you are claiming income-based JSA you will have to go to the Jobcentre every fortnight, to 'sign on' to show that you are available for work. If you are claiming Income Support you do not need to 'sign on'.

.: Anything else?

If you get Income Support or income-based JSA, you can claim other benefits, such as a £300 Sure Start Maternity Grant, free milk and vitamins, help with fares to hospital, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.