Charnwood Borough Council - Leading in Leicestershire

These payments provide extra Housing or Council Tax Benefit to be paid for up to 4 weeks where all of the following conditions are met:

• You or your partner start employment / self employment or increase your working hours (to 16 hours a week or more) or increase the amount of earnings
• You or your partner have been entitled to Income Support or Job Seekers Allowance (Income Based) which has stopped as a result of starting work or increasing hours or earnings
• The new job, increase in hours or earnings are expected to last for at least five weeks
• You or your partner satisfies the "26 week condition" which is that you have been entitled to Income Support or Job Seekers Allowance for a continuous period of 26 weeks
• You or your partner remain liable (or treated as liable) for the rent and/or Council tax during the Extended Payment period. This may include liability on a new address. If your rent liability ends then the Extended Payment will also end

From 25th October 2004 you may also qualify for a Job Grant when starting full time work. Please see the Job Grant pdf below.

Can I still apply for Housing and Council Tax Benefit?

You may still be entitled to Housing and or Council Tax Benefit after your Extended Payment has ended. You should complete a new application form within four weeks of the date the Extended Payment began or you might loose out on benefit.

Claiming

• When you sign off at the Job Centre Plus office or tell the Department of Work and Pensions you no longer wish to claim, they will normally tell the Council your entitlement to the Extended Payment
• You may make a request for an Extended Payment directly to the Benefits Service. You can make this request by phone, in writing, e-mail or at the Benefits Service Office. When you make a claim for an Extended Payment we will check with the DWP or Job Centre Plus that you meet all of the qualifying conditions

How much will I be paid?

The Extended Payment will be awarded at the same amount of Housing and / or Council Tax Benefit you were being paid prior to he Extended Payment being awarded.

Extended Payments do not cover any rent-free periods.