Who can apply for Income Support
You can apply for Income Support if you:
are on a low household income
pass the Income Support residence test
are working, looking for work or exempt from looking for work
Who is covered under an Income Support household
Your Income Support benefit is based on the needs and income of your family unit, which is known as an Income Support Household.
Your Income Support household is the group of people who are included on your Income Support claim. This includes:
- you
- a child or children under compulsory school leaving age
- an adult child aged under 25 who is in full time education, training or registered as looking for work
- a person you're in an
interdependent relationship with. This includes marriage and civil partnerships
If you're not sure who makes up your Income Support household, you should contact us before applying.
Each adult included in an Income Support household must pass the Income Support residence test.
Income Support residence test
Who isn't included
Any other family members won't be part of your Income Support household, even if they share a property with you.
For example, if an elderly relative lives with their son or daughter, the child and parent would each be a separate Income Support household and would have to make a separate claim.
Interdependent relationships
An interdependent relationship means a relationship in which 2 people commit to each other and share their lives as 1 unit. This includes couples who may or may not be in a marriage or civil partnership and may or may not live together.
Factors that an interdependent relationship may include, but are not limited to:
- if you're married or in a civil partnership. Unless living separately following a formal separation, you must include your spouse or civil partner in this form
- presenting yourselves to your friends and family as a couple
- the exclusiveness of the relationship
- the level in which household activities and living arrangements are shared
- sharing of finances and supporting each other financially
- having children together or supporting each other's children
- sharing an address together. You may be considered in an interdependent relationship even if you live in separate properties.
- if you have a sexual relationship with your partner
The above are just factors we take into account when deciding whether 2 people are in an interdependent relationship, they are not absolute requirements. You do not need to meet all of these factors to be considered as being in an interdependent relationship.
How to apply for Income Support
To apply for Income Support:
- complete the Income Support eligibility check
- if you're able to receive help based on your answers from the eligibility check, you'll be emailed a link to an application form
- complete your application form
- once you've submitted the form, we'll let you know what documents are needed an ask any further questions
Once we have received a completed application form and documents to support the application we'll contact you to:
- let you know what you're able receive from Income Support
- answer any questions you may have
- provide you with any further support that may be available to you
Income Support eligibility check
Book an appointment with the work and family hub (under pension age)
Book an appointment with the pensions and care hub (over pension age)
If you need an agent or authority to receive payments on your behalf
If you need any of your Income Support to be paid to an agent or authority to receive payments on your behalf, complete the form below.
You can download, sign and return the form to Customer and Local Services by email or post.
Authority to disclose information form
If you want somebody to speak to us about your claim
If you’d like somebody to speak to us about your claim on your behalf, complete the form below.
You can download, sign and return the form to Customer and Local Services by email or post.
Authority to disclose information form
Appealing an Income Support decision
If you’re unhappy with an Income Support decision, you can ask for it to be reviewed.
If you still don’t agree with the decision, you can appeal to an independent tribunal.
If you think a Social Security decision is wrong
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