What Benefit?

• If you are 16-19 – 'Check Child Benefit someone can get for you'
  
  
• If you are not working or working on average <16 hours a week – check 'Jobseeker’s Allowance'
  
  
• If you are on low income AND (i) you are sick or disabled, (ii) you are a lone parent (iii) you are caring for someone who is sick or disabled, (iv) you are registered blind – check 'Income Support'
  
  
• If you pay rent or council tax – check 'Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit'
  

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National Insurance

Most people over 16 must pay contributions to the National Insurance (NI) scheme. You will only pay NI contributions if you earn over a certain amount, but you may be treated as having paid NI contributions if your earnings are lower.

Each week you qualify for Jobseekers Allowance you will be treated as if you have paid your NI contribution.

Child Benefit

Paid to people bringing up a child or children. If you are 16-19 and studying full-time up to A-level, NVQ level 3 or equivalent Child Benefit may continue to be paid for you.

• Your studies must be supervised for >12 hours a week at school or college
  
  
• If the person getting Child Benefit for you gets extra money for you on other benefits, this may continue.
  
  
• Child Benefit may also continue for a limited time if you have registered at your Careers Service office to find training or work
  
  
• Not sure whether child benefit can continue? Contact the Child Benefit Centre – 08701 555 540
  
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Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

General Rules:

• If you are capable of working
  
  
• If you are available for work
  
  
• If you are actively seeking work
  
  
• You cannot usually get JSA if you are studying full-time or aged under 18.
  

You must also be:

• Under 65
  
  
• Not working or working on average less than 16 hours a week
  

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16 and 17yr olds

• You are unlikely to have worked long enough since reaching age 16 to pay enough NI contributions to get contributions-based JSA
  
  

If you are unemployed you may be able to get income-based JSA for a short period of time in special circumstances, e.g.:

• You are forced to live away from your parents or will suffer severe hardship if you don’t get JSA
  
  
• You are a member of a couple who are responsible for a child
  

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If you are studying

• You cannot get JSA if you are studying full time. If you are one of a couple who are both full-time students and one of you is responsible for a child, you may be able to get JSA during the summer vacation.
  
  
• If you are studying part time, but are still available for and actively seeking work, you may be able to get JSA. This will also depend on other circumstances such as how many hours you study
  
  
• If you are 25 or over and have been unemployed for 2 years or more, you may be able to do a full time employment-related course for up to a year and still get JSA
  
  
• You may be able to do an Open University course and still get JSA
  

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Income Support

• For people on a low income
  
  
• Savings over £8,000 (£16,000 if you live in a residential care or nursing home) usually mean you cannot get Income Support
  
  
• If you have to sign on at the Jobcentre, you cannot get Income Support
  
  

Are You:

• 16 or over?
  
  
• On a low income?
  
  
• Not working or working on average less than 16 hours a week?
  
  If Yes to all, claim Income Support.
  
  
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If you are studying, you may be able to get Income Support while you are on your course if you are a lone parent, sick or disabled, or registered blind.

If you are studying up to A level or equivalent, you may be able to get Income Support while you are on your course if you are unable to work because you are caring for someone.

If you are still at school you cannot usually get Income Support for yourself. You may be able to get Income Support when you are still at school if you are:

• Looking after your own child
  
  
• An orphan and nobody is looking after you
  
  
• Unlikely to get a job because of a severe
  disability
  

You may also be able to get Income Support if you are still at School if you are:

• Not living with your parents or being supported by them
  
  
• Not in touch with your parents
  
  
• Separated from your parents for reasons that cannot be avoided and nobody is looking after you in their place.
  

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Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit

• Help towards rent and council tax
  
  
• Paid by local councils
  
  
• You do not have to get any other benefits
  
  

You cannot usually get Housing Benefit if you are a full-time student. (You usually do not have to pay council tax if you’re a full-time student).

Are you on a low income AND paying rent? Claim Housing Benefit

Are you on a low income AND paying council tax? Claim Council Tax Benefit

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Other Help

The Social Fund

• Help with exceptional expenses which are hard to pay out of your regular income
  
  
• You may be able to get help for things like household items, certain travel costs or in an emergency or disaster
  
  

Loans have to be paid back but may be interest free.

Grants do not have to be paid back

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Help with health costs

• Free NHS prescriptions
  
  
• Free NHS dental treatment
  
  
• Free NHS sight tests
  
  
• Vouchers towards the cost of glasses or contact lenses
  
  
• Free NHS wigs and fabric supports
  
  
• Repayment of necessary travel costs to hospital and back for NHS treatment
  

Do you or your partner get:

• Income Support?
  
  
• Income-based JSA?
  

If yes to one, you can get help with health costs.

If No, you may be able to get help with health costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme.

You may also be eligible for help with health costs while you are student.

For more information, see leaflet HC11 'Are you entitled to help with health costs?' Which is available from Post Offices, GPs and dentists.