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Housing Benefit Extended Payment

Summary

Housing Benefit Extended Payment may be payable when a person ceases to be entitled to Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance (Income based) or Employment and Support Allowance (Income Related) because of employment.

The employment must be expected to last for 5 weeks or more.

Who is entitled?

Housing Benefit Extended Payment is available when an Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance (Income based) or Employment and Support Allowance (Income Related) claim ends due to the person starting work (or increasing their hours and/or earnings) which should be expected to last for at least 5 weeks.

To qualify for the payment you or your partner must be receiving Income Support or Jobseeker's Allowance, or a combination of the two, for 26 weeks or more without a break. Periods in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance (Contribution based) will count.

Awards

Housing Benefit will continue at the same rate, as paid during the Income Support or Jobseeker's Allowance (Income based) claim, for a further four weeks irrespective of earnings or most changes of circumstances, or until liability to pay rent ends, whichever comes first.

Housing benefit will not be paid for any rent free weeks which fall in the extended payment period.

If you are a lone parent and have received an additional two weeks Income Support, an extended payment of Housing Benefit will be paid for a further two weeks after the run-on ends, at the same rate, as paid during the Income Support claim, irrespective of earnings or most changes of circumstance, or until liability to pay rent ends, whichever comes first.

There will be no need to claim an extended payment. Instead it will be paid automatically by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive / Land & Property Services, providing that the Social Security or Jobs & Benefits office or Northern Ireland Housing Executive / Land & Property Services is notified that the customer or partner have, or are about to:

start work; or
increase their earnings or hours in work so that Jobseeker's Allowance (Income based) or Income Support ceases and that the work will last 5 weeks or more.

Housing Benefit may be payable after the extended payment stops if you have to pay rent and have a low income and you submit a claim form to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive / Land & Property Services.

The Northern Ireland Housing Executive / Land & Property Services will give these claims priority.