Extended benefit payments

Extended benefit payment is a continuation of your housing benefit or council tax benefit (or both) for up to four weeks when you start a new job or increase your working hours.

How much do I get?

You will normally receive the same amount of Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit as you did in the last week before you started work or increased your hours.

Who qualifies for the payment?

You qualify for extended benefit payments if:

• you or your partner start working at least 16 hours per week, or increase the hours worked to at least 16 hours per week; and
• this change in working hours is expected to last for at least five weeks; and
• you or your partner have been receiving Jobseeker's Allowance (Income Based), Income Support, or a combination of these, Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance, or a combination of these, continuously for at least 26 weeks, and it will now be ending; and
•  you are under 60; and
•  you are still liable to pay rent, Council Tax or both.

How do I claim extended benefit payment?

Just tell us or the Job Centre about your job or increased hours within one month.

Claiming housing benefit and council tax benefit after the extended payment has finished

When your extended payment has finished, you may be entitled to claim again for housing and council tax benefit if you think your income is still low.

You will need to complete a form and return it as soon as possible. Any new benefit will be based on your new circumstances.

If, while you are getting extended benefit, you think you may still be entitled to benefit after the extension period has ended, we suggest that you complete a form as soon as possible. Don't wait until the extended benefit period has finished.

Page last reviewed 13 Feb 2008