To receive Housing Benefit you must be living in the property for which you are claiming benefit. However, some people can continue to claim Housing Benefit whilst away from home.
If you get Housing Benefit and you or anyone in your household will be away from your home for more than four weeks, you need to tell us where you are going, the date you leave and the expected date you will return.
The length of time for which you can continue to claim Housing Benefit whilst away from home depends on the reason why you are away.
Intend to return to live in the property after the absence ends - you can't get Housing Benefit whilst you are away if you have no intention of returning home
Not let or sublet your property whilst you are away - you or your landlord can't rent your room or home out to other people whilst you are away
Not be likely to be away for more than the time allowed at the start of your absence - you can't intend to go and stay with relatives for 16 weeks and ask us to pay for the first 13 weeks
Still be liable for rent on your normal home
Provide the information and proof needed for your claim to continue
You can only continue to claim Housing Benefit for up to four weeks if you’re going away outside of Great Britain. Great Britain includes England, Scotland and Wales.
Great Britain does NOT include Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.
There are some exceptions to this rule. If one of the following applies to you, you can continue to claim Housing Benefit for up to 26 weeks whilst away from Great Britain:
a member of the armed forces posted overseas
a mariner
a continental shelf worker
receiving medically approved care
If you’re away from home but are in Great Britain and one of the following applies to you, you can continue to claim Housing Benefit for up to 13 weeks:
in residential accommodation (for example homes for the elderly) on a trial basis
convicted and sentenced for a crime
on holiday or visiting friends
If you’re away from home because of domestic violence, you can continue to claim Housing Benefit for up to 26 weeks.
If you’re away from home but are in Great Britain and one of the following applies to you, you can continue to claim Housing Benefit for up to 52 weeks:
on remand awaiting trial
in hospital
receiving 'medically approved care' (for example those attending drug or alcohol rehabilitation schemes away from their home)
providing 'medically approved care' to someone else
caring for a child whose parent or guardian is away from home in order to receive medical treatment or 'medically approved' care
following a government training course
students
away because of fear of violence in your normal home
If any of the following change during your absence you need to tell us straight away:
if you decide not to return to the property
if your reason for absence changes
if you're going to be away for longer than expected
