Extended Payments

Your Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance may cease if you start a new job or the number of hours you work increases to 16 or more.

You may still be entitled to maximum Housing and/or Council Tax Benefit if you qualify for an Extended Payment. This is also known as a 'benefit run on'.

Who can claim?

To be eligible for an extended payment you must be in receipt of Income Support, which will cease when you or your partner start work or increase your hours or wages and, for at least 26 weeks immediately prior to Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance (Income Based) ceasing you must have been continuously:

Registering as unemployed or registering as unemployed and getting Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance (Income Based) - JSA (IB) because of low earnings. Periods of receipt of Jobseekers Allowance (Contribution Based) - JSA (C) without Income Support will count towards the 26 weeks, but you must be in receipt of Income Support or JSA (IB) at the point that either you or your partner start work or increase your hours and/or wages.

Additionally:

You must be aged under 60 years old on the day after entitlement to Income Support or JSA (IB) stops. This condition only applies to the person who was claiming Income support or JSA (IB).
Your new job or increase in hours and/or wages must be expected to last for at least five weeks.
You must have a continuing rent and/or Council Tax liability and must have a liability immediately prior to Income Support or JSA (IB) ceasing.

These conditions of entitlement are determined by the Department of Work and Pensions who advise the local authority accordingly.

What will I be entitled to if I qualify?

If you qualify, it means up to an extra four weeks of Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit payable at the same rate whilst in receipt of Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance. It does not matter how much you earn.

If you move home during the extended payment period you may be paid a different rate.

How do I claim an extended payment?

You will need to advise the Department of Work and Pensions, Employment Service or local authority in writing or by telephone that:

You or your partner are starting work or that there is an increase in the number of hours with your existing employment.
That this employment will last for more than five weeks.

You must notify one of the designated offices of the change in circumstances within four weeks of the date of change.

Can I still apply for housing and/or Council Tax Benefit?

You may still qualify for help with your rent and/or Council Tax after the extended payment period has finished. In order to avoid loss of benefit you must submit a completed claim form to Great Yarmouth Borough Council within 28 days of your entitlement to Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance ceasing.