Hi Mad,
Sorry to hear about your situation. Here is some information from the jobcentre website regarding income support. I think if you are entitled to income support you should get housing and council tax benefit too. Have you also checked that you are claiming Working Tax/Child Tax credit?
Hope things get better for you soon,
Lex x
p.s. you can also apply online
Making a new or repeat claim for benefit
You can now ring us on our new number to make a benefit claim.
Phone: 0800 0 55 66 88
Text phone: 0800 0 23 48 88 if you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech difficulties.
Please read the current information regarding Call Charges.
Phone lines are open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.
The call will take about 40 minutes. You should call from:
- home, if possible; or
- from somewhere where you are comfortable and where other people cannot overhear your personal information.
You will speak to an operator who will guide you through making a new claim or renewing the details of a claim that has recently closed. During the call you will be asked to provide information including:
- Your National Insurance number;
- Details of your rent or mortgage;
- Details of your past or present employment; and
- Details of other income and savings.
Please make sure that you have this information handy when you call.
The operator will tell you what will happen next with your claim. For example, they may make you an appointment to see an adviser at your nearest Jobcentre Plus office to help with your search for work. They can also tell you who to contact if you have a question about your benefit.
We can only accept calls from the person who is making the claim, unless you have made previous arrangements with us for someone to act on your behalf.
Claim Online
You can claim Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance or Incapacity Benefit online
If you are claiming Maternity Allowance, Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit or Bereavement Benefits, or Carers Allowance you do not need to meet a personal adviser unless you want to or you are claiming other benefits through Jobcentre Plus.
Income based JSA
Income-based Job Seekers AllowanceWhat is it?Income based Job Seekers Allowance is a benefit that is paid by the government to people who have no, or very little income, and are unemployed and seeking work.
If you are aged 16 or over, and have no or very little income, then you may be able to claim Jobseekers Allowance. In order to get Jobseekers Allowance you must not be working more than 16 hours a week, and must meet ‘labour market conditions’ (which means that you are available for work, you are actively seeking work, and you have a jobseekers agreement).
Unlike is partner (contribution-based Jobseekers Allowance), Income based Jobseekers allowance does not require that you have paid 2 years worth of National Insurance contributions before you are eligible. Therefore, if you have just left school, you will probably need to claim Income based JSA.
In order to apply for Jobseekers Allowance, you will need to pop along, with all your details (especially your National Insurance number) to your nearest Jobcentre plus, and fill in a claim form.
How much will I get?If you claim Jobseekers Allowance, the amounts that you can expect to receive are:
£34.60 a week for single people aged 16-17
£45.50 a week for single people aged 18-24 (including some 16-17 year olds)
£57.45 a week for single people aged 25 or over.
Single parents can expect to receive:
£34.60 a week for people aged under 18
£45.50 a week for people aged under 18 in certain circumstances
£57.45 a week for people aged 18 or over.
Couples can expect to receive:
A maximum of £68.65 a week if both people are aged under 18
A maximum of £90.10 a week if both people are aged 18 or over.
(Please also note that if you are living with your partner, their circumstances e.g. age may also affect your claim, so make sure that you take appropriate advice).
Children, until the day before their 19th Birthday can expect to receive £43.88 a week.
In addition to the above amounts, certain groups of people can claim a little extra to meet extra living costs. They are:
Families can claim an extra £16.25 a week
If you have a disabled child, you can claim an extra £45.08 a week
If you are a carer, you are entitled to claim an extra £26.35 a week
If you are single, and disabled, you can claim an extra £24.50 a week
If you are a couple, and disabled, you can claim an extra £34.95 a week
If you are severely disabled, and single, you can claim an extra £46.75 a week
If you are severely disabled, and a couple, you can claim an extra £93.50 a week
If you have a small income, and are single, then the first £5.00 of your income is ignored.
If you have a small income, and are a couple, then the first £10.00 of your income is ignored.
How do I apply?You will need to complete a claim form, which you will need to complete and return when you attend your ‘Job Seeker Interview’.
Where do I apply?An adviser at your local Jobcentre plus office can point you in the right direction. They will give you all the relevant forms that you will need to complete, and can arrange a suitable date and time for your Job Seekers Interview.
Is there anything else I should know?At the interview, an adviser will:
- Make sure you understand the rules for Job Seekers Allowance
- Discuss the kinds of work that you are looking for and the best ways of finding a job
- Give you information about jobs, training, and other opportunities
- Check that you have filled out your form in full and given them all the information that they need
You must usually go to the Jobcentre every two weeks to confirm that you are still entitled to Job Seekers Allowance. Your adviser will discuss how your job search is going and if they can help.
As well as seeing them every 2 weeks, you must also attend regular, more detailed interviews to look at your situation.