child support and income support

Blackpool_Saver

Ok, so we all now know that child support is no longer counted for income support purposes, but I have a question, suppose child support stops or goes down, does income support go up ?

Kimitatsu

No is the quick answer! Theoretically you could be on IS and have £200 a week in maintenance which would be disregarded, but if that stopped then the state would not step in to give you the extra £200 a week.

karenx

No, why should income support go up if the father isnt paying anymore or the amount gets reduced? Income support and child maintenance are 2 totally different things.

Blackpool_Saver

I meant back up to the amount income support pays not up to the child support amount. Letters have been sent saying there will be an increase, but if support changes we still have to notify.

kelloggs36

income support should always be the full amount except for other deductions.

newdawn_2

The reason I believe that the government still require notification is

1) For statistics - they can see how much the disregard is costing the economy.

2) For poverty statistics

3) Any future change in legalisation that overturns this disregard will be easier to implement.

Kimitatsu

As Kellogs has said it should make no difference to your income support any longer as CM is now wholly disregarded for the purpose of benefits. The only time I can see it making a difference is if you had savings in excess of £6000.

Great post by newdawn - its the only reason they want to know!

Blackpool_Saver

I am not getting across what I mean and I can't think of another way to put it

Kimitatsu

Because of the disregard for benefit purposes you should get full IS regardless of your CM payment. Where previously if you had CM you got to keep the first £10 or £20 and then IS made up the rest minus that money, now you should get the full IS AND your CM. So even if your CM changes then you will still get full IS.

Does that help?