Income support

alwaysonthego_2

dookar wrote: »

When did this change?

I am not sure what you mean but as the OP's partner is not a single mum she will not qualify for IS.

However she can claim ESA dependent whether she is eligible for it. I think previously there could be a claim for IB for those who did not qualify for maternity benefits and IS.

dookar

sh1305 wrote: »

October 2008. You can only get IS if you're a single parent or carer.

This is untrue

alwaysonthego wrote: »

I am not sure what you mean but as the OP's partner is not a single mum she will not qualify for IS.

However she can claim ESA dependent whether she is eligible for it. I think previously there could be a claim for IB for those who did not qualify for maternity benefits and IS.

You used to be able to claim IS 11 weeks before and 15 weeks after, you say you no longer can so I'm asking when this change occurred as I am unaware of the change. So too are Jobcentreplus, seemingly.

alwaysonthego_2

Income Support

What is it?

Income Support is a weekly benefit, which is meant to bring a persons household income up to the level which they and their family need to live on, provided they nor their partner are working full-time. If they are able to work or are signing on then the equivalent benefit is Income Based Jobseekers Allowance which is worked out in much the same way as Income Support. Common Income Support Amounts Here.

How to qualify for Income Support

The applicant must be

1 living and resident in the U.K.

2 be 16 or over and under Pension Age

3 not be doing 16 or more hours of paid work, per week, (if you have a partner then they must not be doing 24 hours or more paid work per week) there are many people who are allowed to work over these hours and remain entitled to Income Support, Carers, Disabled, Childminders, etc seek advice.

4 not be in full-time education, again many exceptions to this rule, e.g. Lone parents, Disabled, etc, seek advice.

5 not be on strike

6 not have over £16,000 in capital (this includes, savings, investments, and property that is not the main home, some property can be ignored, seek advice,)

7 have income of less than their needs.

As well as all of the above the claimant must fit into at least one of the following.

1 be unfit for work due to illness or disability (existing cliams pre Oct 2008)

Or

2 be a lone parent, responsible for a child under 10 (7 from October 2010), and have no partner.

Or

3 caring for a person who has or has claimed the middle or high rate care component of Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance.

If the applicant does not fit into any one of the above situations that would stop them being available for work, then they should claim Jobseekers Allowance instead.

If you are part of a couple and you do not fit into any of the above situations but your partner does then you could consider letting your partner become the claimant, Seek Advice.



http://www.welfarerights.net/benefits-guides/Income-Support

As I understand the op's partner has no entitlement for IS and therefore has to claim ESA.

dookar

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/technical-guidance/ni17a-a-guide-to-maternity/if-you-cannot-get-smp-or-ma/#is

Income Support

You may be able to claim Income Support from the period beginning 11 weeks before your expected date of childbirth and ending 15 weeks after the date your pregnancy ends. You may also be able to claim at any time during your pregnancy if you are unable to work because of your pregnancy.

20160 A woman can get IS if
1. she is incapable of work by reason of pregnancy or
2. she is or has been pregnant, but only for the period
2.1 beginning eleven weeks before the EWC and
2.2 ending 15 weeks after the date pregnancy ended.

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/dmgch20.pdf

I just wondered aloud when it had changed

alwaysonthego_2

dookar wrote: »

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/technical-guidance/ni17a-a-guide-to-maternity/if-you-cannot-get-smp-or-ma/#is






http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/dmgch20.pdf

I just wondered aloud when it had changed

I am not disagreeing that a woman can not get income support for pregnancy if she is a lone parent, but if she is part of a couple than surely that would make her not entitled?

dookar

alwaysonthego wrote: »

I am not disagreeing that a woman can not get income support for pregnancy if she is a lone parent, but if she is part of a couple than surely that would make her not entitled?

nope, relationship status is immaterial

NASA_2

I havent seen it said anywhere that the couple are living together - only that they are a 'couple'.

Could mean a few things.