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 seek specialist advice. 



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: Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit at a rate higher than the family element, or Housing 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; or



• 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, for example:



• they are a parent of a child living with them; 



• they do not live with a parent or someone acting as a parent because, for example, there are serious risks to their mental or physical health.


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