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'.
A 'household' can be any of the following:
- one person living alone
- a couple (married, unmarried or civil partners) living together
- a family living together with children under school leaving age or still in full time education
If you have a spouse or partner, Income Support will look to see if you are living together - either at the same address or at more than one address. If you are living together you'll be treated as one Income Support Household.
A young adult who is a jobseeker will be included in the family household up to the age of 25.
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.
Each adult who is included in an Income Support Household must pass the Income Support residence test.
Income Support residence test
How to apply for Income Support
Our Income Support eligibility check asks basic questions for you and your Income Support household. Based on your answers, if you may be able to receive some help, you will be emailed a link to the online application process for you and your Income Support Household. Both the Income Support eligibility check and the online forms are easier to complete on a laptop or desktop device.
Once you have submitted this form, we will let you know what documents are needed as part of your application which can also be submitted online. We may also need to ask further questions at this time.
Once we have received the documents to support the application we will contact you to let you know what you are able receive via Income Support, answer any questions you may have and also to provide you with any further support that may be available to you.
Income Support eligibility check
If you need an agent / authority to receive payments on your behalf
If you need any of your Income Support to be paid to an agent / 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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