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Information and public services for the Island of Jersey

L'înformâtion et les sèrvices publyis pouor I'Île dé Jèrri

About Income Support (easy read)

​Income Support is extra money we can give to help people who do not have enough money.

​Here we will tell you about:

  • who can get Income Support
  • what you need to do to apply for it

​Income Support can help pay for things like:

  • the cost of housing
  • the cost of living, like food and electricity
  • health needs
  • childcare

​The amount we give out depends on how much money your family has.


​Income Support is usually paid to you every week.​


​You do not pay tax on Income Support.


​We can give out one-off payments to help with expensive costs or for emergencies.​


​If there is a change in how much money people earn in your family, you must tell us no more than 14 days later.


​It is a criminal offence if you do not tell us of any changes:

  • we might charge you for any money we overpaid you
  • we might take you to court
  • you might lose the benefits you get or have to repay them 

​Telling us about changes to how much money you have


​Anyone can tell us about changes to how much money you have.

​You can do it online using our change of circumstance form or book an appointment with us in person​ or call us.​​

  + 44 (0) 1534 444 444

​Who can apply for Income Support


​You can apply for Income Support if:

  • everyone in your home brings in a low amount of money
  • you pass the Income Support residence test​
  • you're working or looking for work
  • you have an illness that means you cannot work

​The needs of your family in your home


​You get Income Support depending on the needs of your family in your home.

This is called an Income Support Household.

​Your Income Support Household includes:

  • you
  • children
  • adult children under 25 who are in full-time education, training or looking for work

​Your Income Support Household also includes a person who is in a relationship with you, like if you are married or in a civil partnership.

​Your Income Support Household does not include any other family members who share your home with you.

So, if a child over 25 is living with their parent, they would both have to make different Income Support claims.

​How we decide if you are in a relationship with someone


​A relationship is when 2 people share their lives together.

​This includes couples who may or may not be married or in a civil partnership. 

​A civil partnership is when two people legally say they are partners and share their lives together.

​People who are married or in a civil partnership may or may not live together.


We can see you are in a relationship if you:

  • ​are married or in a civil partnership
  • tell friends and family that you're a couple
  • are with only one partner 
  • you share activities in your home
  • ​you support each other by sharing money
  • you have children together or support each other’s children
  • you live in the same home

​These are just some ways that show you are in a relationship.

You do not have to do all of these things to be in a relationship with someone. 

​How to apply for Income Support 

To apply for Income Support:

When we have your form and documents, we'll:

  • let you know how much money you can get 
  • answer any questions you might have
  • give you any extra support that you might be able to get

​If someone else is looking after your Income Support


​You may need your Income Support to be paid to someone else to look after it.

​You may want someone else to speak to us about your Income Support claim.

​For either of these reasons, you will need to fill in an ‘authority to disclose' information form.

​If you do not agree with our decision

​If you are unhappy about what we decide about your Income Support, you can ask us to look at it again.

​If you still do not agree with what we decide, you can appeal.

Appeal means asking an independent group of people to make a final decision about your Income Support. 

​Find out more

​If you have any questions about Income Support, you can contact the Work and Family Team. 

​To talk to someone face to face about Income Support you can: 

Book an appointment with us​

  + 44 (0) 1534 444 444 and press option 1



Contact us

Customer and Local Services
PO Box 55
La Motte Street
St Helier
Jersey
JE4 8PE

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