income support anyone?

[lucy_x]

Has anyone claimed income support whilst pregnant and then carried on claiming after the birth?

If so did your payment go up?

For example Atm im getting £50 something a week, which according to the website should have gone up to £65.45 once baby was born, they wrote to me, asking if i had had the baby, to which i replied.

I rang the jobcentre today to be told that no longer happens? they no longer pay an extra £15 once a baby is born?

Is this correct...someone help!!!

 

[Flowerew]

Hi there, Yes I think it is correct, I claimed income support during my pregnancy then up to 15 weeks after my son was born. After the 15 weeks I went back onto JSA and my payments stayed exactly the same.

 

[loverguts]

I think they used to put it up after you had a baby if you were under 25 but now its just when you turn 25. There have been loooooads of changes since new government came in. But if you are 25 or over then it should definitely be 65 a week.
To the other poster, why were you put back onto JSA after 15 weeks? Ive been told i can stay on IS till LO is 5 if i need to (not that i intend to!), but it seems a bit mean to expect someone to start seeking work when they have a 4 month old, unless thats what you wanted to do.

 

[lulu35]

im on income support and it is only for you, i get 52 a week, child tax credits are now given for children instead of your IS going up.

 

[Flowerew]

Hi Loverguts. To cut a very long story short. I live with my partner and we were both on JSA a few months before I got pregnant. He hasn't worked for about 8 years now whereas I got made redundant Feb 09. Anywho. He was admiment that he was not going to sign on after Income Support ended so I had no choice. Now they expect me to find a job as well as look after my 4 month old as the father does sod all! Sorry for the small rant lol but thats why I had to go back to signing on, because they said one of us were eligible to look for work.

 

[Ju_bubbs]

As lulu said, they no longer pay IS for children, its just for you. you need to claim child tax cedits fo LO from the inland revenue

 

[loverguts]

Flowerew - that sounds awful, they should have forced him to be the one who goes back to JSA!

 

[tessica123]

i am on income support

i am 28
i was on jsa and went onto income support at 29 weeks and havnt been told ill have to come off it when lo is 15weeks and being single mum not sure if id want to go looking for job till lo it at least 1

i get £65 week and have done since i 1st went on it

 

[Flowerew]

Tessica, I think if you are a single mum you will just stay on Income Support. I wouldn't think they would expect a single mum to go back to work.

 

[Ju_bubbs]

Yes, as a single mum, you are not officially considered to HAVE to look for work until your youngest child is 7. You will be entitled to IS until then.

(not saying you sill be on IS until LO is 7.. just stating the rules )

 

[lucy_x]

well i guess we wre al;l wrong, Including the woman on the phone who said they wouldnt go up. I recieved a letter today stating my payment would be going up to £65.45 because of a change in circumstances (having a baby)

so short answer, yes payments go up in my case anyway