Extended Payments
What is an Extended Payment Period (EPP)
If you or your partner, are starting work or increasing your
hours and have been receiving Jobseekers Allowance, Employment and
Support Allowance, Income Support, Incapacity Benefit or Severe
Disablement Allowance for a period of 26 weeks or more (or any
combination of those benefits in that period) then you may be
entitled to claim 4 weeks Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax
Benefit at the same rate as you were getting before.
This is called the extended payment period and will last for up
to 4 weeks. This will start on the Monday following the date that
you or your partner stops receiving any of the above benefits.
You must be under 60 years of age and expect your new work
or your increased hours to last for at least 5 weeks and be working
for 16 hours or more per week.
How can I claim an EPP?
You must tell us straight away if you think you are entitled to
claim an extended payment. You must do this within one month of
your change. You must also supply proof of your new work start date
and proof that your job is expected to last longer than 5 weeks and
the hours that you will be working.
What happens at the end of the extended payment period?
If you have satisfied the conditions we will amend your benefit
claim to continue for up to 4 weeks from the Monday after your
Jobseeker's Allowance, Income Support, Employment and Support
Allowance, Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance
stopped. You will be paid at the rate that you already receive
benefit at.
Your claim will be ended after the extended payment period. We
will write to you confirming this. However, if you want to
continue to claim benefit after the 4 week Extended Payment Period
you must supply proof of all of your income and capital. This must
be supplied within one month of the change.
You must also remember to tell the Department
of Work and Pensions or Job Centre Plus that you have started
work.
This webpage was updated on
2/9/2012