Extended Payments

Extended Payments can help you by giving an extra four weeks of Housing and/or Council Tax benefit when certain other benefits stop because you are going back to work, working more hours or earning more money. This is also sometimes called the "four week run-on".

Who can get Extended Payments?

You will get Extended Payments if:

• you or your partner start work or self-employment, increase your hours or increase your earnings

and

• this is expected to last for five weeks or more

and

• you have been getting Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance or contributory Employment & Support Allowance or a combination of these benefits continuously for at least 26 weeks, and this benefit stops because of the change

or

• you have been getting Jobseeker's Allowance, Income Support or income-related Employment & Support Allowance or a combination of these benefits continuously for at least 26 weeks and this benefit stops because of the change

Please note that if you are getting Jobseekers Allowance, you need to be on the income-based element immediately before the job starts. If you are on contribution-based Jobseekers Allowance, you will not be able to get Extended Payments.

How much will I get?

Normally you'll get the same amount of Housing and / or Council Tax benefit as you did before your income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Income Support, income-related Employment & Support Allowance, Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance or contributory Employment & Support Allowance stopped.

How do I claim?

You do not have to make a claim for an Extended Payment, but you do need to let us know that you have started work etc. and that you expect that your new job, increased hours or increased earnings will last for at least five weeks. We will check to make sure that you have been on a relevant benefit for 26 weeks and let you know if you can get Extended Payments.

How will it be paid?

We will pay your Housing Benefit in the same way as usual.
Your Council Tax benefit will be deducted from your bill in the usual way.

What else do I need to know?

We can also check whether you are entitled to benefit based on your new income. Once your extended payment period has ended, you can move onto in-work Housing and / or Council Tax Benefit (provided you are entitled to it) without having to make a new claim. You will need to fill in a form to show your new circumstances.

If you would like any more information, please contact the Benefits Team.