Extended Payments

You may be able to continue to receive Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit for an extra 4 weeks after your benefit ceases. This could be because you have returned to or started work, or a wage/hours increase has resulted in Income Support or Job Seekers Allowance income-based entitlement ending,This extra help is called an extended payment. It is paid irrespective of earnings. To qualify for the extra help you or your partner must satisfy the following:

• You or your partner must have been unemployed for at least six months and been receiving Jobseeker's Allowance, Income Support, Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance or a combination of these continuously during that time.
• If your Income Support or Jobseeker's Allowance has stopped because you have started work, you must expect the job to last for at least 5 weeks.
• Must be liable and remain liable for rent/Council Tax during the extended payment period (which could include liability on a new address).
• Must have been in receipt of Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit which ceased due to the end of entitlement to Income Support/Jobseekers Allowance.

If we think you qualify for an extended payment, we will award it automatically.  If you think that you should be entitled to an extended payment and have not received it, then please contact us.