Extended payment of Housing Benefit
When you start a job, work more hours or earn more money, some of your benefits may stop. To help you pay rent and rates, you might get an extended payment of Housing Benefit. This payment can last up to four weeks.
Who is eligible
You don't have to claim an extended payment of Housing Benefit if you or your partner (and they stay your partner throughout the claim) stopped getting income related Employment and Support Allowance continuously for 26 weeks and you:
- started employment or self-employment
- increased your working hours or earnings
and
- expect the job, or the increase in hours or earnings to last at least five weeks
Extended payment for a tenant
The Housing Executive will decide if you can get an extended payment of Housing Benefit.
Extended payment for a homeowner
The Housing Executive assesses if you're entitled to an extended payment of Housing Benefit.
Who should you contact if your circumstances change
You should tell the Housing Executive about changes, such as starting work or increasing your hours. You can learn more about this at:
How much you'll get and how you get paid
Normally you'll get the same amount of Housing Benefit as you did before.
Extended payment is paid the same way as your Housing Benefit.
Extended payment when you're working
If you are going back to work and are a tenant or a homeowner, the Housing Executive will also decide if you are still entitled to get Housing Benefit.
How to appeal
If you are refused Housing Benefit or the extended payment, you can ask the Housing Executive to look at it's decision again.
If you’re still unhappy with the outcome, you can appeal.