- What is an extended payment of Housing Benefit/Local Housing Allowance and/or an extended reduction of a Council Tax Reduction?
- Will I be entitled to an extended payment and/or extended reduction?
- What will I be entitled to if I qualify for an extended payment and/or extended reduction?
- How do I claim an extended payment and/or extended reduction?
- Can I still apply for Housing Benefit/Local Housing Allowance and/or Council Tax Reduction?
What is an extended payment of Housing Benefit/Local Housing Allowance and/or an extended reduction of a Council Tax Reduction?
This is a Government (UK and Welsh) incentive to assist people moving from benefits into work.
An extended payment and/or extended reduction can be paid when you have been receiving Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance (income-based), Incapacity Benefit, Employment and Support Allowance or Severe Disablement Allowance continuously for 26 weeks and it stops because you or your partner (if applicable) have started full-time work or your hours or earnings from your current employment increase.
Will I be entitled to an extended payment and/or extended reduction?
You are entitled to an extended payment and/or extended reduction if:
- you or your partner(if applicable) start a new job or your hours or earnings from your current employment increase and the work is expected to last five weeks or more and
- you or your partner(if applicable) have been claiming Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance (income based), Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance or Employment Support Allowance continuously for at least 26 weeks immediately before you started work or your hours or earnings from your current employment increase and
- you and your partner (if applicable) have to pay rent and/or Council Tax for the whole period of the extended payment/reduction
What will I be entitled to if I qualify for an extended payment and/or extended reduction?
If you qualify, you will be entitled to up to 4 weeks of Housing Benefit/Local Housing Allowance and/or Council Tax Reduction payable at the same rate as you were getting whilst receiving Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance (income based), Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance or Employment Support Allowance. During these 4 weeks it does not matter how much you earn.
How do I claim an extended payment and/or extended reduction?
If you only want to be considered for an extended payment and/or reduction, you must inform us immediately in writing, by telephone or in person when you or your partner (if applicable) start full-time work or your hours or earnings from your current employment increase.
We will then check to see if you qualify for an extended payment and/or extended reduction and notify you of the outcome accordingly.
If you want to be considered for an extended payment and Housing Benefit/Local Housing Allowance and/or extended reduction and a Council Tax Reduction based on you new income please see 'Can I still apply for Housing Benefit/Local Housing Allowance and/or Council Tax Reduction?'
Can I still apply for Housing Benefit/Local Housing Allowance and/or Council Tax Reduction?
To enable us to consider whether you qualify for Housing Benefit/Local Housing Allowance and/or Council Tax Reduction based on your new income you will need to complete a Change in Circumstances form which can be downloaded from the Application Forms page or the Changes that may affect your entitlement page. Alternatively you can contact the Local Authority via email at revenues@ceredigion.gov.uk, by phone on 01970 633252 or by writing to the Local Authority at the address shown on the contact page and a form will be sent to you. You can also visit and collect a form at one of our Local District Offices.
The completed form can be returned via email to revenues@ceredigion.gov.uk or posted to the Local Authority at the address shown on the contact page or returned to your Local District Office.
You will also be required to provide documentary evidence of all your weekly income, capital and savings when available. Please see Supporting Evidence Checklist for further information.