If you have to temporarily leave your home and need to continue receiving benefit you must tell us:
You may continue to get housing benefit if you:
If your temporary absence from home is within Great Britain we may be able to pay benefit for 13 or 52 weeks.
We can pay housing benefit for up to 13 weeks if you are:
We can pay benefit for up to 52 weeks if you are:
If your temporary absence is outside Great Britain, please continue reading below.
No changes to temporary absence rules for Council Tax Support claims.
A transitional provision will be included so that the changes do not apply to people who are already temporarily absent from Great Britain (GB) on the date the regulations come into force.
These regulations intend to reduce the period of allowable absence outside GB from 13 weeks to four weeks for the majority of claimants.
This means that Housing Benefit and Pension Credit would generally not be paid for more than four weeks in the event of a temporary absence outside of GB.
(Northern Ireland, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands - temporary absences to any of these places is absence outside GB).
Situation |
Before 28th July 2016 Rules of absence OUTSIDE GB |
On or after 28th July 2016 Rules of absence OUTSIDE GB |
Claimant or partner temporarily absent for any reason. |
Up to 13 weeks |
Up to four weeks |
Claimant absent in connection with the death of a partner |
Up to 13 weeks |
Up to eight weeks (four weeks and further four weeks if unreasonable to expect claimant to return) |
Claimant or partner absent in connection with the death of a child or a qualifying young person normally living with the claimant |
Up to 13 weeks |
Up to eight weeks (four weeks and further four weeks if unreasonable to expect claimant to return) |
Claimant or partner absent in connection with the death of a close relative of claimant, partner or of a child of qualifying young person normally living with the claimant. |
Up to 13 weeks |
Up to eight weeks four weeks and further four weeks if unreasonable to expect claimant to return) |
Claimant or partner absent abroad in order to receive medical treatment |
Up to 52 weeks |
Up to 26 weeks |
Claimant or partner accompanying a partner, child or qualifying young person for medical treatment abroad |
Up to 52 weeks |
Up to 26 weeks |
A person enters residential accommodation to determine whether it is suitable for their needs |
Up to 13 weeks |
Up to four weeks |
The person is resident in hospital or similar institution as a patient |
Up to 52 weeks |
Up to 26 weeks |
The claimant, partner or dependent child is undergoing medical treatment (MT) or medically approved convalescence in accommodation other than residential accommodation |
Up to 52 weeks |
Up to 26 weeks |
The person is providing medically approved care (MAC) of a person residing in the UK or elsewhere |
Up to 52 weeks |
Up to four weeks |
The person is caring for a child whose parent is temporarily absent for receiving MAC or MT |
Up to 52 weeks |
Up to four weeks |
The person receiving temporary care in residential accommodation that is not on a trial basis. |
Up to 52 weeks |
Up to four weeks |
The person that has left their dwelling through fear of violence in that dwelling |
Up to 52 weeks |
Up to 26 weeks |
In connection with being a mariner or continental shelf worker |
Up to 13 weeks |
Up to 26 weeks |
In connection with being a share fisherman |
Up to 13 weeks |
Up to four weeks |
The person is undertaking a training course |
Up to 52 weeks |
Up to four weeks |
Students |
Up to 52 weeks |
Up to four weeks |
A person is detained in custody on remand pending trial, pending sentence upon conviction, has bail requirements to live elsewhere, needs to live in bail accommodation or is sentenced following conviction |
Up to 52 weeks |
Up to four weeks |
Members of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces (as a member of the armed forces away on operations) |
Up to 13 weeks if absent outside of GB. If within GB, 13 weeks |
For absence outside of GB, 26 weeks For absence within GB, no change, 13 weeks |
Email: | enquiries.benefits@derby.gov.uk |
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Post address: |
Derby Benefits Customer Service Centre The Council House Corporation Street Derby DE1 2FS |
Phone: | 01332 640444 |
Minicom: | 01332 640666 |