Qualifying Conditions (Info)

The 50 plus (50+) element is payable for

• A continuous period of no longer than 12 months

Or for

• Periods amounting to no more than 12 months, following the date of claim, provided the gap between those periods is not more than 26 weeks. In which case it is payable to a claimant

• Who is aged at least 50

And

• Who has returned to work within the preceding 3 months, on or after 6th of April 2003 for at least 16 hours a week. This must be directly after receiving one of the following benefits for consecutive periods amounting in aggregate at least six months prior to starting work

• Consecutive periods are periods which are separated by a gap of not more than 12 weeks

• Income Support ( IS)

• Income or Contributions-based Jobseeker's Allowance ( JSA)
   
• Income-related or Contributions-based Employment and Support Allowance ( ESA)

• Incapacity Benefit

• Severe Disablement Allowance

• Both a State Retirement Pension and the Pension Credit

• A combination of the above continuously for at least six months prior to the claim

• Was being credited with National Insurance contributions in accordance with the Social Security (Credits) Regulations 1975 or receiving Carer's Allowance, Widowed Parent’s Allowance or Bereavement Allowance for 26 weeks before going on to make a successful claim for one of the benefits listed above

Or

• Receiving a training allowance for participating in either of the schemes known as 'Work-Based Learning for Adults' and 'Training for Work'

A person can still qualify for the 50+ element if

• For at least 6 months immediately before starting work their partner was receiving one of the five qualifying benefits

• A dependent increase made in respect of the claimant was paid as part of the benefit

It is important to note that the element is paid to the individual (unlike the 30-hour element). Therefore, in a joint claim, both partners could qualify for a 50+ element in their own right. Hours can not be combined to increase this element.