Is maintenence taken into account for Income Support?

[DoingItForMyself]

Just reading through some old threads which mention £20 a week as the cut off. Has this changed, as the Turn2Us site said that these payments weren't taken into account.

I'm so confused by it all. H has always dealt with the money and I am now having to navigate my way round this confusing system, I don't even know where to start.

He's getting keys to his new place today so I can start my claim as soon as he moves out. I work P/T on a fairly low income and was under the impression that IS would top this up to a manageable amount, but if they only let me have £20 from H when he is offering more, will I lose out?

Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer a newbie to the Lone Parents board. x

/www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/benefits_e/benefits_help_if_on_a_low_income_ew/help_for_people_on_a_low_income_-_income_support.htm#how_much_income_support_can_you_get

This indicates that child maintenance is not taken into account, but may be worth you going along to your local CAB to get a full benefits check done

No, maintenance isn't counted any more. It used to be but the law was changed. The cost of the administration required to keep adjusting income support to take account of changing maintenance amounts (some people are very unreliable about paying child maintenance) ended up costing more than just ignoring maintenance altogether.

Snorbs - had often wondered why maintenance was not counted, now i know, thanks!

Sorry, not sure why link thing didn't work but hopefully you can cut and paste it.

The only thing that I was asked for was a letter confirming that the money paid by ex-p was child maintenance and not spousal maintenance (that was for HB though, slightly different and you may not be applying for that). IS took a few weeks to come through and they didn't want to back date it for me (even by 2 days) so its worth ringing right away.

Thanks. Where do I start with applying for it? Can I do it online or do I have to fill in proper forms etc?

Can I apply for tax credits at the same time or is that a separate claim?

tax credits is a separate claim (again child maint is not taken into account), you can start a claim by calling them. If you are already claiming as a couple then once he moves out the joint claim ends and you have to start a new single claim - don't delay this as they can only backdate to the rules regardless of the fact that you are already claiming.

no idea on making other benefit claims but someone should be along to help.

Just filled in the form and they are asking about maintenance (who is it paid to? who is it for? how much will it be?)

Do I just put that its paid TO me FOR the DCs and then the amount is irrelevant? H is being very generous I know, so it may look like a lot, but I will need it to keep this house and family running, even with my PT wages and IS top up.

I applied over the phone (you have probably filled in loads of boxes already...), anything that needed clarification was sorted out there and then (I got a really nice lady on the phone...). Definitely worth putting that at amount is paid to YOU but for the DC's.

Thanks Cinnamon. Tried the phone but hung on for 20 mins with no answer

Will phone tomorrow to log the date and at least I'll have all the info to hand then. I still need to fill in some other form as I'm self employed, then tax credit one, then council tax relief one. They don't make it easy do they?!