Other rules relating to Income Support



Deductions



There is a full disregard for child maintenance payments, meaning any money parents receive from this source is not taken into account when calculating out-of-work benefits, including Income Support (IS).



Taking industrial action


If you are on strike, you are normally not entitled to Income Support (IS). However, if you have dependents, you may be able to claim a restricted benefit on their behalf and also help with housing costs. But any IS to which your family is entitled will have £40.50 assumed strike pay deducted, whether or not you are receiving this. If you are receiving strike pay of more than £40.50 a week, any excess is counted as income and is deducted from the payment.



For the first 15 days after you have been on strike, you may be able to get IS if you do not receive sufficient wages or any advance of wages from your employer. Any IS that is paid to you for these days will be deducted from your wages by your employer and returned to Jobcentre Plus.



Help with housing costs



If you receive IS and you own your home, you may — after a waiting period of 39 weeks — be entitled to help with mortgage interest payments (see chapter 1). You may also qualify for help with loans for repairs and improvements or other housing costs. 



If you pay rent to either a social or a private landlord, you may be entitled to Housing Benefit (see Chapter 7). If you are in board and lodgings you may also be entitled to help with the cost of these. 



Other benefits


If you are receiving IS, income-related Employment and Support Allowance or income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, you, your partner and any children you are claiming for are entitled to free NHS prescriptions, free NHS eye tests and free NHS dental care. In addition, your child/children may be entitled to free school meals (and free school milk) and some local councils provide help with the cost of school clothing, including PE kit. Citizens Advice provides advice on help with school costs on its website at: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/family/education/school-education/help-with-school-costs.



Parental or paternity leave


If you are taking unpaid parental, paid or unpaid paternity leave and you are entitled to receive Working Tax Credit, Housing Benefit or Child Tax Credit at a higher rate than the family element, you may be entitled to receive IS. If you are not entitled to one of the benefits listed above and you take unpaid parental leave, you may still be able to get IS. Contact Jobcentre Plus to find out whether you are eligible to claim or go to: www.gov.uk/contact-jobcentre-plus.