Income Support and lone parents

The rules about which lone parents are eligible to claim Income Support (IS) changed in April 2012. The change means that lone parents will now move onto Jobseeker’s Allowance rather than Income Support (IS) when their child goes to school.

This change means that your entitlement to IS as a lone parent may stop when your youngest child reaches school age. You may be able to claim Jobseeker’s Allowance instead, where you will be expected to sign on as available for and seeking work. Special rules allow some full-time students to continue receiving IS as a lone parent until their course ends or their youngest child turns 16, whichever happens first.

The rules about the age of the youngest child should not affect lone parents who are able to claim IS for some reason other than being a lone parent. In particular, if you are looking after a disabled child you may also count as a carer for IS. A lone parent who is also a carer can claim IS regardless of their youngest child’s age. However, there is a very specific definition of when a parent looking after a disabled child counts as a carer. For more information see the DWP guide to IS available at: www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/is-20.pdf.

If you are currently claiming

If you are currently claiming IS and your youngest child exceeds the maximum age you may still be able to claim it if you are sick or disabled. The rules are very complex so you should get specialist advice on your situation.

You may also be able to claim IS if you are looking after children and:

• you are on parental or paternity leave from work but you’re not receiving any pay, and you were getting Tax Credits (payable at a higher rate than the family element), Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit on the day before your leave began;

• you are looking after a child under 16 whose parent or guardian is temporarily away or has been taken ill;

• you are fostering a child and you are single.

You cannot normally claim IS if you:

• are a full-time student (although there are some exceptions to this rule, and some part-time students may be able to claim);

• work more than 16 hours a week or your partner works more than 24 hours a week (unless you are a childminder, a volunteer worker or fall into another defined category);

• get Jobseeker’s Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA); or

• have capital and savings worth £16,000 or more.

Young people in full-time education up to A-level may also get IS if they are:

• a lone parent;

• do not live with a parent or someone acting as a parent;

• at serious risk of abuse or violence; or

• a refugee learning English.

Again, the exact rules for eligibility are complicated and specialist advice should be sought.