Search Legislation

The Income Support (General) Regulations 1987

Changes to legislation:

The Income Support (General) Regulations 1987 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 11 December 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Help about Changes to Legislation

Close

Changes to Legislation

Changes and effects yet to be applied by the editorial team are only applicable when viewing the latest version or prospective version of legislation. They are therefore not accessible when viewing legislation as at a specific point in time. To view the ‘Changes to Legislation’ information for this provision return to the latest version view using the options provided in the ‘What Version’ box above.

  1. Introductory Text

  2. PART I GENERAL

    1. 1.Citation and commencement

    2. 2.Interpretation

    3. 3.Definition of non-dependant

    4. 3A.Permitted period

  3. PART II CONDITIONS OF ENTITLEMENT

    1. 4.Temporary absence from Great Britain

    2. 5.Persons treated as engaged in remunerative work

    3. 6.Persons not treated as engaged in remunerative work

    4. 7.Meaning of employment

    5. 8.Persons not required to be available for employment

    6. 9.Persons treated as available for employment

    7. 10.Circumstances in which claimants are not to be treated as available for employment

    8. 10A.Actively seeking employment

    9. 11.Registration for employment

    10. 12.Relevant Education

    11. 13.Circumstances in which persons in relevant education are to be entitled to income support

    12. 13A.Persons under 18 years

  4. PART III MEMBERSHIP OF THE FAMILY

    1. 14.Persons of a prescribed description

    2. 15.Circumstances in which a person is to be treated as responsible or not responsible for another

    3. 16.Circumstances in which a person is to be treated as being or not being a member of the household

  5. PART IV APPLICABLE AMOUNTS

    1. 17.Applicable amounts

    2. 18.Polygamous marriages

    3. 19.Applicable amounts for persons in residential care and nursing homes

    4. 20.Applicable amounts for persons in board and lodging accommodation and hostels

    5. 21.Special cases

    6. 21A.Reductions in applicable amounts in certain cases of failure to attend courses

    7. 22.Reductions in applicable amounts in certain cases of actual or notional unemployment benefit disqualification

  6. PART V INCOME AND CAPITAL

    1. CHAPTER I general

      1. 23.Calculation of income and capital of members of claimant's family and of a polygamous marriage

      2. 24.Treatment of charitable or voluntary payments

      3. 25.Liable relative payments

      4. 26.Calculation of income and capital of students

      5. 27.Rounding of fractions

    2. CHAPTER II income

      1. 28.Calculation of income

      2. 29.Calculation of earnings derived from employed earner's employment and income other than earnings

      3. 30.Calculation of earnings of self-employed earners

      4. 31.Date on which income is treated as paid

      5. 32.Calculation of weekly amount of income

      6. 33.Weekly amount of charitable or voluntary payment

      7. 34.Incomplete weeks of benefit

    3. CHAPTER III employed earners

      1. 35.Earnings of employed earners

      2. 36.Calculation of net earnings of employed earners

    4. CHAPTER IV self-employed earners

      1. 37.Earnings of self-employed earners

      2. 38.Calculation of net profit of self-employed earners

      3. 39.Deduction of tax and contributions for self-employed earners

    5. CHAPTER V other income

      1. 40.Calculation of income other than earnings

      2. 41.Capital treated as income

      3. 42.Notional income

      4. 43.Notional earnings of seasonal workers

      5. 44.Modifications in respect of children and young persons

    6. CHAPTER VI capital

      1. 45.Capital limit

      2. 46.Calculation of capital

      3. 47.Disregard of capital of child or young person

      4. 48.Income treated as capital

      5. 49.Calculation of capital in the United Kingdom

      6. 50.Calculation of capital outside the United Kingdom

      7. 51.Notional capital

      8. 51A.Diminishing notional capital rule

      9. 52.Capital jointly held

      10. 53.Calculation of tariff income from capital

    7. CHAPTER VII liable relatives

      1. 54.Interpretation

      2. 55.Treatment of liable relative payments

      3. 56.Period over which periodical payments are to be taken into account

      4. 57.Period over which payments other than periodical payments are to be taken into account

      5. 58.Calculation of the weekly amount of a liable relative payment

      6. 59.Date on which a liable relative payment is to be treated as paid

      7. 60.Liable relative payments to be treated as capital

    8. CHAPTER VIII students

      1. 61.Interpretation

      2. 62.Calculation of grant income

      3. 63.Calculation of covenant income where a contribution is assessed

      4. 64.Covenant income where no grant income or no contribution is assessed

      5. 65.Relationship with amounts to be disregarded under Schedule 9

      6. 66.Other amounts to be disregarded

      7. 66A.Treatment of student loans

      8. 67.Disregard of contribution

      9. 68.Income treated as capital

      10. 69.Disregard of changes occurring during summer vacation

  7. PART VI URGENT CASES

    1. 70.Urgent cases

    2. 71.Applicable amounts in urgent cases

    3. 72.Assessment of income and capital in urgent cases

  8. PART VII CALCULATION OF INCOME SUPPORT FOR PART-WEEKS

    1. 73.Amount of income support payable

    2. 74.Relevant week

    3. 75.Modifications in the calculation of income

    4. 76.Reduction in certain cases

    5. 77.Modification of section 23(5) of the Act

  9. Signature

    1. SCHEDULE 1

      PERSONS NOT REQUIRED TO BE AVAILABLE FOR EMPLOYMENT

      1. 1.Lone parents

      2. 2.Single persons looking after foster children

      3. 3.Persons temporarily looking after another person

      4. 4.Persons caring for another person

      5. 4A.A person who, had he previously made a claim for...

      6. 5.Persons incapable of work

      7. 6.Disabled workers

      8. 6A. Persons in employment living in residential care homes, nursing homes or residential accommodation

      9. 7.Disabled students

      10. 7A.(1) A person who is a student who—

      11. 7B.(1) A person who is a student in respect of...

      12. 8.Blind persons

      13. 9.Pregnancy

      14. 10.Persons in education

      15. 11.Training allowances

      16. 12.Open University students

      17. 13.Persons within 10 years of pensionable age

      18. 14.Persons aged 60

      19. 15.Allowances under the Job Release Act 1977

      20. 16.Refugees

      21. 17.Persons required to attend court

      22. 18.Discharged prisoners

      23. 19.Persons affected by a trade dispute

      24. 20.Persons from abroad

      25. 21.Persons in custody

      26. 22.Member of couple looking after children while other member temporarily abroad

      27. 23.Persons taking a child or young person abroad for treatment

    2. SCHEDULE 1A

      CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH A PERSON AGED 16 OR 17 IS ELIGIBLE FOR INCOME SUPPORT

      1. PART I PERS0NS ELIGIBLE UNTIL 18

        1. 1.A person who is not required to be available for...

        2. 2.A person who is incapable of work and training under...

        3. 3.A person who is a member of a couple and...

        4. 4.A person who is temporarily laid off employment and is...

      2. PART II PERS0NS ELIGIBLE UNTIL THE RELEVANT DATE DETERMINED UNDER REGULATION 13A(3)(b)

        1. 5.A registered person who is a member of a married...

        2. 6.A registered person who has no parent nor any person...

        3. 7.A registered person who– (a) is not living with his...

        4. 8.A registered person who is in accommodation which is other...

        5. 9.A registered person who is living away from his parents...

        6. 9A.A registered person who of necessity has to live away...

        7. 10.In this Schedule– (a) any reference to a person acting...

    3. SCHEDULE 2

      APPLICABLE AMOUNTS

      1. PART I personal allowances

        1. 1.The weekly amounts specified in column (2) below in respect...

        2. 2.The weekly amounts specified in column (2) below in respect...

      2. PART II family premium

        1. 3.The weekly amount for the purposes of regulations 17(1)(c) and...

      3. PART III premiums

        1. 4.Except as provided in paragraph 5, the weekly premiums specified...

        2. 5.Subject to paragraph 6, where a claimant satisfies the conditions...

        3. 6.(1) The severe disability premium to which paragraph 13 applies...

        4. 7.(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) for the purposes of this...

        5. 8.Lone Parent Premium

        6. 9.Pensioner premium for persons under 75

        7. 9A.Pensioner premium for persons 75 and over

        8. 10.Higher Pensioner Premium

        9. 11.Disability Premium

        10. 12.Additional condition for the Higher Pensioner and Disability Premiums

        11. 13.Severe Disability Premium

        12. 14.Disabled Child Premium

        13. 14ZA.Carer premium

        14. 14A.Persons in receipt of concessionary payments

        15. 14B.Person in receipt of benefit

      4. PART IV Weekly amounts of premiums specified in part III

      5. PART V rounding of fractions

        1. 16.Where income support is awarded for a period which is...

    4. SCHEDULE 3

      HOUSING COSTS

      1. 1.Eligible Housing Costs

      2. 2.Basic condition of entitlement to housing costs

      3. 3.Circumstances in which a person is treated as responsible for housing costs

      4. 4.Circumstances in which a person is or is not to be treated as occupying a dwelling as his home

      5. 5.Circumstances in which no amount of housing costs may be met

      6. 6.Apportionment of housing costs

      7. 7.Interest on loans to acquire an interest in the dwelling occupied as the home

      8. 8.Interest on loans for repairs and improvements to the dwelling occupied as the home

      9. 9.Other housing costs

      10. 10.Restriction on meeting housing costs under this Schedule

      11. 11.Non-dependant deductions

      12. 12.Rounding of fractions

    5. SCHEDULE 3A

      PROTECTED SUM

      1. 1.Interpretation

      2. 2.Protected sum

      3. 3.Persons not entitled to a protected sum

      4. 4.Period of application

      5. 5.Reduction of protected sum

      6. 6.Termination of protected sum

      7. 7.Protected persons

    6. SCHEDULE 3B

      PROTECTED SUM

      1. 1.Interpretation

      2. 2.Protected sum

      3. 3.Persons not entitled to a protected sum

      4. 4.Reduction of protected sum

      5. 5.Termination of protected sum

      6. 6.Modifications in cases of temporary absence and loss of entitlement to income support

    7. SCHEDULE 4

      1. PART I applicable amounts of persons in residential care and nursing homes

        1. 1.(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), the weekly applicable amount of...

        2. 2.(1) Where, in addition to the weekly charge for accommodation,...

        3. 3.Where any part of the weekly charge for the accommodation...

        4. 4.Where a payment is to be made in respect of...

        5. 5.(1) Subject to paragraph 12 the maximum referred to in...

        6. 6.Residential care homes

        7. 7.Nursing homes

        8. 8.For the purposes of paragraphs 6(e) and 7(d) this paragraph...

        9. 9.The appropriate amount applicable to a claimant in a residential...

        10. 10.(1) Where more than one amount would otherwise be applicable,...

        11. 11.(1) Where the accommodation provided for the claimant is a...

        12. 12.Circumstances in which the maximum is not to apply

        13. 13.Personal allowances

      2. PART II persons to whom regulation 19 does not apply

        1. 14.A claimant or, if he is a member of a...

        2. 15.A person who is on holiday and during a period...

        3. 16.A person who has entered a residential care or nursing...

        4. 17.A person aged 16 or over but under 19 who...

        5. 18.A person who is living in a residential care home...

    8. SCHEDULE 5

      1. ... applicable amounts of persons in board and lodging accommodation or hostels

        1. The allowance for personal expenses for the claimant and each...

      2. persons to whom regulation 20 and part i of this schedule is not to apply

        1. In this Schedule “ initial period ” means that period...

    9. SCHEDULE 6

      BOARD AND LODGING AREAS

      1. ...

    10. SCHEDULE 7

      APPLICABLE AMOUNTS IN SPECIAL CASES

    11. SCHEDULE 8

      SUMS TO BE DISREGARDED IN THE CALCULATION OF EARNINGS

      1. 1.In the case of a claimant who has been engaged...

      2. 2.In the case of a claimant who has been engaged...

      3. 3.In the case of a claimant who has been engaged...

      4. 4.(1) In a case to which this paragraph applies, £15;...

      5. 5.If an amount by way of a lone parent premium...

      6. 6.(1) In a case where paragraph 4 does not apply,...

      7. 7.(1) In a case to which none of paragraphs 4...

      8. 8.Where the claimant is engaged in one or more employments...

      9. 9.In a case to which none of paragraphs 4 to...

      10. 10.Notwithstanding paragraph 6, 7, or 9, where two or more...

      11. 11.Any earnings derived from employment which are payable in a...

      12. 12.Where a payment of earnings is made in a currency...

      13. 13.Any earnings which is due to be paid before the...

      14. 14.Any earnings of a child or young person except earnings...

      15. 15.In the case of earnings of a child or young...

      16. 16.In this Schedule “part-time employment” means employment in which the...

    12. SCHEDULE 9

      SUMS TO BE DISREGARDED IN THE CALCULATION OF INCOME OTHER THAN EARNINGS

      1. 1.Any amount paid by way of tax on income which...

      2. 2.Any payment in respect of any expenses incurred by a...

      3. 3.In the case of employment as an employed earner, any...

      4. 4.In the case of a payment of statutory sick pay...

      5. 4A.In the case of the payment of statutory sick pay...

      6. 5.Any housing benefit.

      7. 6.Any mobility allowance or the mobility component of disability living...

      8. 7.Any concessionary payment made to compensate for the non-payment of—...

      9. 8.Any mobility supplement or any payment intended to compensate for...

      10. 9.Any attendance allowance but, where the claimant is in a...

      11. 9A.Any care component of disability living allowance where the claimant...

      12. 10.Any payment to the claimant as holder of the Victoria...

      13. 11.Any sum in respect of a course of study attended...

      14. 12.In the case of a claimant to whom regulation 9...

      15. 13.In the case of a claimant participating in arrangements for...

      16. 14.Any Job Start Allowance payable pursuant to arrangements made under...

      17. 15.(1) Except where sub-paragraph (2) applies and subject to sub-paragraph...

      18. 16.Subject to paragraphs 36 and 37, £10 of any of...

      19. 17.Where a claimant receives income under an annuity purchased with...

      20. 18.Any payment made to the claimant by a person who...

      21. 19.Where the claimant occupies a dwelling as his home which...

      22. 20.Where the claimant occupies a dwelling as his home and...

      23. 21.(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), except where regulation 42(4)(a)(i) (notional...

      24. 22.(1) Any income derived from capital to which the claimant...

      25. 23.Any income which is payable in a country outside the...

      26. 24.Where a payment of income is made in a currency...

      27. 25.(1) Any payment made to the claimant in respect of...

      28. 26.Any payment made by a local authority to the claimant...

      29. 27.Any payment made by a health authority, local authority or...

      30. 28.Except in the case of a person to whom section...

      31. 29.(1) Any payment received under an insurance policy, taken out...

      32. 30.Except where paragraph 29 applies, any payment made to the...

      33. 31.Any social fund payment made pursuant to Part III of...

      34. 32.Any payment of income which under regulation 48 (income treated...

      35. 33.Any payment under paragraph 2 of Schedule 6 to the...

      36. 34.In the case of a person to whom section 23...

      37. 35.Any payment which is due to be paid before the...

      38. 36.The total of a claimant's income or, if he is...

      39. 37.Notwithstanding paragraph 36 where two or more payments of the...

      40. 38.Any resettlement benefit which is paid to the claimant by...

      41. 39.(1) Any payment made under the Macfarlane Trust, the Macfarlane...

      42. 40.Any payment made by the Secretary of State to compensate...

      43. 41.Any payment made by the Secretary of State to compensate...

      44. 42.Any payment made by the Secretary of State to compensate...

      45. 43.Any payment made to a juror or a witness in...

      46. 44.Any housing benefit in the form of a community charge...

      47. 45.Any community charge benefit.

      48. 46.Any payment in consequence of a reduction of a personal...

      49. 47.Any special war widows payment made under—

      50. 48.(1) Any payment or repayment made– (a) as respects England...

      51. 49.Any payment made under regulation 9 to 11 or 13...

      52. 50.Any payment made either by the Secretary of State for...

      53. 51.Any payment (other than a training allowance) made, whether by...

    13. SCHEDULE 10

      CAPITAL TO BE DISREGARDED

      1. 1.The dwelling occupied as the home but, notwithstanding regulation 23...

      2. 2.Any premises acquired for occupation by the claimant which he...

      3. 3.Any sum directly attributable to the proceeds of sale of...

      4. 4.Any premises occupied in whole or in part by—

      5. 5.Any reversionary interest.

      6. 6.(1) The assets of any business owned in whole or...

      7. 7.Any arrears of, or any concessionary payment made to compensate...

      8. 8.Any sum— (a) paid to the claimant in consequence of...

      9. 9.Any sum— (a) deposited with a housing association as defined...

      10. 10.Any personal possessions except those which had or have been...

      11. 11.The value of the right to receive any income under...

      12. 12.Where the funds of a trust are derived from a...

      13. 13.The value of the right to receive any income under...

      14. 14.The value of the right to receive any income which...

      15. 15.The surrender value of any policy of life insurance.

      16. 16.Where any payment of capital falls to be made by...

      17. 17.Except in the case of a person to whom section...

      18. 18.Any social fund payment made pursuant to Part III of...

      19. 19.Any refund of tax which falls to be deducted under...

      20. 20.Any capital which under regulation 41, 44(1) or 66A (capital...

      21. 21.Where a payment of capital is made in a currency...

      22. 22.(1) Any payment made under the Macfarlane Trust, the Macfarlane...

      23. 23.The value of the right to receive an occupational or...

      24. 24.The value of the right to receive any rent.

      25. 25.Where a claimant has ceased to occupy what was formerly...

      26. 26.Any premises where the claimant is taking reasonable steps to...

      27. 27.Any premises which the claimant intends to occupy as his...

      28. 28.Any premises which the claimant intends to occupy as his...

      29. 29.Any payment in kind made by a charity or under...

      30. 30.Any payment not exceeding £200 made under section 2 of...

      31. 31.Any payment made by the Secretary of State to compensate...

      32. 32.Any payment made by the Secretary of State to compensate...

      33. 33.Any payment made by the Secretary of State to compensate...

      34. 34.Any payment made to a juror or a witness in...

      35. 35.Any housing benefit in the form of a community charge...

      36. 36.Any payment in consequence of a reduction of a personal...

      37. 37.Any grant made to the claimant in accordance with a...

      38. 38.(1) Any payment or repayment made– (a) as respects England...

      39. 39.Any payment made under regulation 9 to 11 or 13...

      40. 40.Any payment made either by the Secretary of State for...

      41. 41.Any arrears of special war widows payment which is disregarded...

      42. 42.Any payment (other than a training allowance, or a training...

      43. 43.Any payment made by a local authority under section 3...

  10. Explanatory Note

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

You have chosen to open The Whole Instrument

The Whole Instrument you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open The Whole Instrument as a PDF

The Whole Instrument you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open the Whole Instrument

The Whole Instrument you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open Schedules only

The Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

Point in Time: This becomes available after navigating to view revised legislation as it stood at a certain point in time via Advanced Features > Show Timeline of Changes or via a point in time advanced search.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

Timeline of Changes

This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.

Close

More Resources

Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as made version that was used for the print copy
  • correction slips

Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:

  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • links to related legislation and further information resources