Extended payments
Extended payments are payments of housing and or council tax benefit made for the first four weeks when a customer or their partner either starts work or increases their hours or earnings.
Conditions of entitlement
The claimant or partner must have stopped claiming
Income Support, Job seekers Allowance (Income Based), Incapacity
Benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance, or Employment Support
Allowance (Income related or contribution based) and:
-
were in receipt of one of the above benefits for 26 weeks continuously before starting or increasing their hours of work
-
the job is expected to last for more than five weeks
We will decide if you have met the 26-week condition. You can appeal if we have decided that you have not met the condition.
How to claim
You do not have to claim an extended payment. You
just need to advise us that you have started work, increased your
hours or earnings and that you have ceased to receive one of the
above mentioned benefits. You must inform us within one
calendar month of the change occurring either in
writing, by telephone or visiting the benefit
service reception.
The weekly amount of the extended payment will be the higher of:
-
the housing and/or council tax benefit that you were paid in the benefit week in which you started work, or
-
the amount you are entitled to based upon your earnings
Extended payments can still be paid if you move address during
the extended payment period.