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Starting Work

What help can I get when I start work?

If you have been getting Income Support, JobSeekers Allowance (Income Based), Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disablement Benefit and this has stopped because: -

• You or you partner have started work
• You or your partner have received an increase in pay
• You or your partner have received an increase in the hours you work

You may be able to receive an extended payment.

What is an Extended Payment?

If you are entitled to an extended payment, your Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit will continue at the same rate you were receiving before you started work for an extra four weeks. The extended payment can still be made even if you move to another address to start work, but the amount of the extended payment may be different, this will depend on where you move.

How do I qualify for an Extended Payment?

The main qualifications for an extended payment are: -

• The job or increased hours must be expected to last for 5 weeks or longer
• When the claim for extended payment is made you must be aged under 60
• You must claim extended payments within 4 weeks of you or your partner starting work or increasing your hours/earnings
• You or your partner must have been receiving Income Support or Job Seekers Allowance (Income Based), Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance continuously for 26 weeks before you start work or increase your hours

How do I claim an Extended Payment?

You will need to notify the Department for Work and Pensions or the Council's benefit section that:

• You are about to start work for 16 hours or more per week, or that your hours or earnings are about to increase: and
• Your partner is about to start work for 24 hours or more per week or increase their hours: and
• That the work, or the increase is expected to last 5 weeks or more.

You can do this by phoning or writing, but this must be done within 4 weeks of the day the work or the increase in earnings started.

This will enable the Department for Work and Pensions to promptly end your Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance (Income Based), Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance and notify us if you can get an extended payment.

What happens after my extended payment comes to an end, or if I do not qualify for an extended payment?

You may still qualify for Housing/Council Tax Benefit based on your new income details. You will need to give us full details of your new income and provide proof of you and your partners' earnings, benefits and capital.

Do not delay in retuning all the necessary information; even if you don't have all the necessary proof, otherwise you could lose benefit.