Temporary Absence from Home or Great Britain

• Most people of working age have to apply for Universal Credit housing costs if they need help with their rent. See our Universal Credit page for more information.

If you qualify for Housing Benefit

• Absences within Great Britain
• Absences abroad

You are usually only entitled to Housing Benefit (HB) whilst you live in your home.

In limited circumstances you may continue to qualify for HB - or the same amount of HB - if you or a person in your household is temporarily absent.

Each type of absence is subject to its own specific criteria and strict time-limits and there are different rules for absences within Great Britain and absences abroad.

You or the person who is absent must satisfy certain criteria to continue to qualify for HB or the same amount of HB during a period of temporary absence.

A period of temporary absence begins on the first day of absence. You should provide sufficient evidence and information to confirm:

• the reasons for the absence
• the date the absence began
• the date the person who was absent returned home

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Absences within Great Britain

Great Britain means England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are NOT part of Great Britain.

13 weeks or less

You may continue to qualify for Housing Benefit (HB) or the same amount of HB for up to 13 weeks during a period of temporary absence within Great Britain but only if:

• you or the person who is absent intends to return to your home; and,
• your home or the part of your home used by that person is not let or sub-let during their absence; and,
• the period of absence within Great Britain is unlikely to exceed 13 weeks.

More than 13 weeks

If you or a member of your household is going away for 13 weeks or more you must tell us. You may continue to qualify for HB or the same amount of HB for up to 52 weeks during a period of temporary absence within Great Britain but only if the absent person is:

• detained in custody whilst on remand or awaiting sentencing
• living elsewhere as a condition of bail
• a hospital in-patient
• undergoing medical treatment or medically approved care in non-residential accommodation
• undertaking medically approved care of someone else
• on a government training course
• in fear of violence and does not qualify for Housing Benefit on 2 homes
• a student not excluded from receiving HB who has to study abroad as part of the course
• receiving temporary residential care

but in all cases you can only continue to qualify for HB or the same amount of HB if:

• you or the person who is absent intends to return to your home; and
• your home or the part of your home used by that person is not let or sub-let during their absence; and
• the period of absence within Great Britain is unlikely to exceed 52 weeks (or in exceptional circumstances is unlikely to substantially exceed 52 weeks).

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Absences abroad

Abroad means anywhere outside of Great Britain. This includes Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

You must tell us if you or a member of your household goes abroad for any reason, for example, to go on holiday. You may continue to qualify for Housing Benefit (HB) or the same amount of HB for up to 4 weeks during a period of temporary absence abroad but only if:

• you or the person who is absent intends to return to your home; and,
• your home or the part of your home used by that person is not let or sub-let during their absence; and,
• the period of absence abroad is unlikely to exceed 4 weeks.

In limited circumstances the 4-week period can be extended by up to a further 4 weeks but only if:

• the absence abroad is due to the bereavement of a partner, child, sibling or parent; and
• it is unreasonable to expect the absent person to return to Great Britain within 4 weeks.

The maximum period of absence for members of Her Majesty's armed and reserve forces who are posted overseas is 26 weeks from the first day of absence abroad.

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