Extended payments
What is an extended payment?
The extended payment scheme is designed to make it easier to move from income support or job seekers allowance (income based) to work.
It allows you to remain on full housing/council tax benefit for an extra four weeks after you come off income support or job seekers allowance (income based).
Extended payments are payable for 2 weeks for lone parents and for 4 weeks for all other claimants.
The extended payment starts from the Monday after your income support or job seekers allowance (income based) stops.
Who can claim?
The scheme is not available to everybody who comes off income support/job seekers allowance. You have to satisfy certain qualifying conditions.
Qualifying conditions
Lone parents who leave income support or job seekers allowance (income based) to go into work will receive an extra 2 weeks income support and a further 2 weeks extended payment if the following qualifying conditions are met:
- Income support or job seekers allowance (income based) has been paid continuously for at least 26 weeks, and
- You have been a lone parent throughout the period; and
- The work is for at least 16 hours per week and expected to last for at least 5 weeks
You must notify the Benefits Agency, Employment Service or Revenues and Benefits Office within 4 weeks of you or your partner starting work/increasing hours.
All other claimants who leave income support or job seekers allowance (income based) to go into work will receive an extra 4 weeks housing and council tax benefit if the following qualifying conditions are met:
- Income support or job seekers allowance (income based) immediately before starting work or increasing hours for at least 26 weeks before the change
- The new job/increase in hours must be expected to last at least 5 weeks
- You must notify the Benefits Agency, Employment Service or Revenues and Benefits Office within 4 weeks of you or your partner starting work/increasing hours
- The 4 week period starts from the day you start work/increase your hours
If any of the conditions above are not satisfied you will not be entitled to extended payment.
Extended payments are not payable for rent-free weeks.
How much will I be paid?
The extended payment is paid at the same rate of housing/council tax benefits you received when you were receiving income support/job seekers allowance.
All changes of circumstances within the extended payment period are ignored.
If liability to pay rent and/or council tax ends before the end of the extended payment period then the extended payment will end.
If I move outside the authority who will make the payment?
There are various conditions depending on what type of accommodation you move from or to.
Private tenant to private tenant
If you are a private tenant and are moving from outside the council area, the responsibility for the payment stays with the original council and it will be payable at the original rate of benefit.
Council tenant or private tenant to council tenant
The responsibility for payment transfers to the new council and is payable at the maximum housing benefit amount for the new address.
Council tenant to private tenant
The responsibility for payment transfers to the new council.
How do I claim?
To claim you must notify the Benefits Agency, Employment Service or Revenues and Benefits Office within 4 weeks that you have started work or increased your hours.
If you still wish to claim housing and council tax benefit after your income support/job seekers allowance (income based) has ceased you must complete a new application form.
How will my benefit be paid?
If you rent your home from the council, we will pay your benefit straight into your rent account. This means that you will have less rent to pay.
If you rent from anyone else, we will send you a cheque.
If you prefer, we may be able to send the cheques to your landlord/landlady.
Council tax benefit will be taken off your council tax bill. This means that you will have less council tax to pay.
Independent advice
For help and advice, visit our benefits offices
