can i get a little job while on income support?

RoxsiScotland

hi eveyrone,

i am on income support on the ground of incapacity - my health problems dont allow me to hold down a full time job.

i dont really feel the amount i recieve is enough to live on, so was hoping i could get a little job, for say 4 -12 hours a week to help out financially and make me feel useful.

i know that in some circumstances you can work up to 16 hours on income support, but are there any other rules such as earnings limits ect?

many thanks for any help.

Kazonline

Hi Roxsi, I'm not 100% sure of what your allowance would be, but I'm pretty sure it would be £5 and then anything after is deducted - but I could be wrong. The maximum allowance is £20, and single parents on IS are entitiled to that ammount of disregard.... not sure if it's the same for those on IS via IB. Hope that helps,
Kaz x

RoxsiScotland

£5?! oh dear, wouldnt even be able to work one hour then. will go in to speak to them to be sure then. i get £46 or so per week, hardly enough to support myself. this amount is going up to over £78 in spring next year, just shows you even they dont think its enough to live on.

dekaspace

Well it depends, for me £46 is enough to buy a good weeks food, pay electric and council tax, top up rent and have £5-£10 week left over.

But that doesnt take into account stamps for jobsearch or travel just the basics
.

Are you under 25 you get an extra £10 a week then

RoxsiScotland

you must be fantastic at managing money! hats off to you.

with £20 for food, £5 to take care of the cat, £25 digs, thats already overspent without considering bus fares, toiletries, electricity, gas, phone bill, internet bill, let alone any entertainment, clothes or gifts.

i am under 25. does that mean i can earn an extra £10, or i should be recieving an extra £10. many thanks.

aaroncaz

dekaspace wrote: »

Well it depends, for me £46 is enough to buy a good weeks food, pay electric and council tax, top up rent and have £5-£10 week left over.

But that doesnt take into account stamps for jobsearch or travel just the basics
.

Are you under 25 you get an extra £10 a week then

I'm sorry but where do you live??? You are saying you can do all this on £46 a week? and if you are on benefits, you don't pay council tax anyway!

healy

The earnings disregard in your circumstances is £20 per week.I dont know what dekaspace is talking about with regard to "an extra £10 a week" because there is no such thing.

seven-day-weekend

If you are on Incapacity Benefit you can do Permitted Work....I don't know whether it's the same if you are on IS on grounds of Incapacity.

The Rules for Permitted Work:

http://www.workways.org.uk/Permitted%20Work%20Rules.htm

Try asking at DWP or CAB.

Hope so for you!

Kazonline

By Digs do you mean rent? You should be entitled to housing benefit for help with the rent as you are on Income support. Have you tried the website 'entitled to'? I'm not 100% on the web adress, but I know it's on here somewhere as I found it the other day.EDIT - here it is! www.entitledto.com It tells you what you should be entitled to. HTH
Kaz x

PS also try finding out whether your council offer any discount schemes for use of leisure facilities etc. In our area you get discount on exercise classes and swimming etc. Also I found college a huge help to me. Boosted my confidence - and I got extra money for going! Ask your local college for info on attending, costs, grants etc and ask jobcenter as to how (if) it affects your benefit.

Gemmzie

Have you thought about working 16 hours and getting Working Tax Credits? As your under 25 you can get it on the basis of having a disability/illness which doesn't allow you to work fulltime