You may be able to continue to get your Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit or both for an extra four weeks after your Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance stops because you or your partner start work or increase your hours or wages. The extra help is called an extended payment. It is paid irrespective of earnings. To qualify for the extra help you or your partner must satisfy the following:

• must have been entitled to Jobseekers Allowance or Income Support continuously for at least 26 weeks (or any combination of those two benefits in that period). At the date when entitlement to Jobseekers Allowance ceased this must be 'Income Based' and NOT 'Contribution Based'; or

• must have been entitled to Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disability Allowance continuously for at least 26 weeks.

• if your Income Support or Jobseeker's Allowance has stopped because you have started work, you must expect the job to last for at least five weeks.

• must be liable and remain liable for rent/Council Tax during the extended payment period (which could include liability on a new address).

• must  have been in receipt of Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit which ceased due to the end of entitlement to Income Support/Jobseekers Allowance.

If you want to claim an extended payment, you can either write to us or phone us within four weeks of starting work.