Benefits - Application

Benefits - Thinking of starting work?

Help when you start work
If you have been getting Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance (Income-Based), Employment and Support Allowance (Income Related), Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance which stops because you or your partner has started work, or because you or your partner has received an increase in pay or in the number of hours worked, you may be able to receive an extended payment.

If you are entitled to the extended payment, your Housing & Council Tax Benefit will continue at the same rate as when you were getting Income Support/Job Seekers Allowance (Income-Based)/Incapacity Benefit/Severe Disablement Allowance for an extra four weeks.
The extended payment can still be made even if you move to start work but the amount may be different depending on where you move to.

To claim an extended payment you will need to notify the Department of Work and Pensions or us that:

you or your partner are about to start work for 16 hours or more per week, or that your hours or wages are about to increase; and
that the work or the increase is expected to last 5 weeks or more.

The notification can be in writing or by phone, and must be made within 4 weeks of the day the work or the increase started.

If you do not qualify for an Extended Payment, or when your Extended Payment is due to end:
You may still qualify for Housing/Council Tax Benefit based on your new income details. You may have to fill in a new application form giving full details of your new income, and provide proof of the amount of earnings, benefits and capital/savings you will have.

If you think you may still qualify for Housing/Council Tax Benefit based on your new details, do not delay in sending back your application form, even if you do not have all the necessary proof and/or are waiting to hear about something, or you may lose benefit to which you would otherwise be entitled.

If you return to Income Support/Jobseekers Allowance/Incapacity Benefit within 26 weeks (12 weeks for Employment and Support Allowance) or less of the end of your previous entitlement and you want to return to Housing/Council Tax Benefit at the same time.

You can claim again for Housing/Council Tax Benefit by filling in a Rapid Reclaim form (HBRR1) available from the Department of Work and Pensions. They will send the completed form to us. If you have not had any change in your circumstances since your previous claim, your Housing/Council Tax Benefit will be reinstated without your having to fill in another full application form.

In this section:

Already earn money from work?

You must send us proof of the money you earn so we can work out your Housing/Council Tax Benefit.
17/08/2006

Benefits - Claiming Housing and/or Council Tax Benefit

Benefit application forms and all information which may affect your application
17/08/2006

Benefits - Help with Childcare costs?

Do you know that a maximum of £300 per week can be disregarded from your income for Housing/Council Tax Benefit purposes?
17/08/2006

Benefits - What if I am a Student?

Do you know that if you are a student you may qualify for Housing Benefit?
17/08/2006

What If I Am Self-Employed?

If you have been working as a self employed person for less than one month please provide details of your estimated income and expenses for the first three months of trading.
17/08/2006

What if I get a War Pension?

If you get a War Disablement Pension or War Widow's/Widower's Pension or Guaranteed Income Payment paid by the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces Compensation Scheme, we will disregard the whole amount of this income when calculating how much Housing/Council Tax Benefit you are entitled to.
17/08/2006