Extended payments

The claimant or her/his partner must start employment or self-employment, or increase her/his hours or earnings for a period expected to last at least five weeks, and the claimant or her/his partner have been entitled to a qualifying benefit for at least 26 weeks prior to the claim and entitlement to this benefit ceases as a result of starting the job. The qualifying benefits are:

• Income support

• Income based job seekers allowance

• Employment support allowance

• Incapacity benefit

• Severe disability benefit

If the claimant fulfils these conditions s/he will be eligible to retain her/his Housing Benefit for a further four weeks. [1]

Extended payments should be made automatically, provided the claimant has notified the DWP as to her/his change of circumstances.  

Claimants who move into low-paid work may be entitled to some housing benefit on top of their earnings. Entitlement to this should be assessed by the DWP at the same time as their eligibility for an extended payment, and, if the claimant is elibigle, payments should be made automatically. [2] If the claimant is entitled to less ongoing housing benefit than the amount of the extended payment, the new amount is awarded from the week immediately following the extended payment.