Extended payments when returning to work

What are extended payments?

Payments of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit that carry on for an extra 4 weeks at the amount you have been getting.

Who can claim?

You can claim for extended payments if you, or your partner, are:

• starting work or increasing your hours and expect your new work or increased hours to last for 5 weeks or more

   and

• have had an entitlement to Jobseeker’s Allowance (Income-Based or Contribution-Based), Income Support, Employment Support Allowance or Incapacity Benefit for a continuous period of 26 weeks or more

   and

• are under 60 years of age

What happens next?

We will look at your claim and assess whether you are entitled to extended payments. If you are we will award 4 weeks Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit at the same rate you were entitled to before you started work. At the end of the extended payment period, we will work out your claim based on your new circumstances.

If we do not have evidence of your new income and full details of your capital, your claim will be suspended following the end of the extended payment period and we will request evidence of all of your income and full details of your capital. Please be aware we will require evidence if your capital is over £5500.

If you do not qualify for extended payments, your claim will be suspended following the change in your circumstances and we will request the proof of your income and capital that we need to work out your claim based on your new circumstances. Acceptable Evidence

Tel: 01843 577552

from 9am to 5.30pm.

Fax: 01843 577532

or Visit our offices