What is an extended payment?
Starting work can mean a lot of practical problems. Your Housing and Council Tax Benefit will change so you need to tell us if you start a new job or you increase your normal hours, start working overtime, get a pay rise etc. You need to tell us immediately, but by doing so you could be entitled to up to 4 weeks Housing and Council Tax Benefit at the same rate as you were getting before. This is called an extended payment period.
If you or your partner fit these criteria:-
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Been getting Jobseekers Allowance, Income Support or a combination of both for at least 26 weeks?
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Stopped getting income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or Income Support because you have started work, increased your hours of work, or your wages have increased?
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Been getting Incapacity Benefit, Employment Support Allowance or Severe Disablement Allowance for at least 26 weeks
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Stopped getting Incapacity Benefit, Employment Support Allowance or Severe Disablement Allowance because you have started work, increased your hours of work, or your wages have increased?
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Started full-time work that you expect to last for 5 weeks or more
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Be in receipt of Housing and/or Council Tax Benefit
If you qualify, it means up to an extra 4 weeks of Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit (provided that you are liable to pay rent and council tax) payable at the same rate as you received whilst in receipt of Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance, Incapacity Benefit, Employment Support Allowance or Severe Disablement Allowance. It does not matter how much you earn but you need to tell us about your new job or change straightaway.
If you wish your claim to continue when you are in work then you will need to supply proof of your earnings and any other income you may have. If you do not wish to continue your claim following your extended payment then you should write to us to confirm this.
The Department of Work and Pensions have information on extended payments , you can reach their website by clicking on this link - www.dwp.gov.uk (External link)
If you need any further information on this and other help you may get please contact us or download our information leaflet