Starting Work

What help can I get when I start work?

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

• You or your 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 as when you were getting Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance (Income-based), Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance, 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, depending on the address you move to.

How do I qualify for an Extended Payment?

The main qualifications for an Extended Payment are:-

• The job 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 Payment within 4 weeks of your Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance (Income-based) ending

you or your partner have been receiving either:-

• Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance continuously for 26 weeks before you start work. (if you receivied Jobseekers Allowance you must have been in receipt of Income-Based Jobseekers Allowance on the date your entitlement stopped (not Contribution-based)
• Incapacity Benefit or Disablement Allowance continuously for 26 weeks before you start work.

How do I claim an Extended Payment?

If you receive Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance (Income-based):

You must tell the Department for Work and Pensions, the Employment Service or the Benefits Service that:

• You or your partner are about to start work for 16 hours or more per week, or that your hours or earnings are about to increase; 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 end your Income Support or Job Seekers Allowance (Income-based) and notify us if you can get an Extended Payment.

If you receive Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance:

If your entitlement to Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance stops, you must make a new claim.  The Department for Work and Pensions will not tell us that you have stopped getting Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance.  You must also tell us that:

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

You must make your claim within 4 weeks of the day the work or the increase in earnings started.

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 Benefit and Council Tax Benefit based on your new income details. You will have to complete a new claim form giving full details of your new income and provide proof of your and your partners' earnings, benefits and capital.

Do not delay in returning your claim form, even if you don't have all the necessary proof.  If you do, you could lose benefit.