So one of the suggestions i had from the job centre is to keep my income support seperate in another account so that other bills and direct debits do not eat up any funds that i get from the government.    You have to request a personal invitation document from the local job centre which is a letter that you have to take to your local post office - then two weeks later you should receive a card for drawing money from the post office account and you can have your income support paid into this account instead of your bank accounts.   You have to use this letter within 6 months.   A useful thing to have.