Temporary Absence From Home

Normally Housing and Council Tax Benefit can only be paid when you are living at the address for which you are claiming, however there are exceptions to this rule which allow people to be temporarily absent from their home and still retain their entitlement to benefit.

When can I qualify for benefit despite being absent from home?

In order to qualify for benefit when you are not at home you must:

  • Intend to return to the property you are claiming following your absence;
  • You or your landlord must not sublet your home whilst you are absent;
  • And your absence must not exceed 13 or 52 weeks, dependant upon the circumstances for your absence.

13 week temporary absence

While you are absent from home you may be able to claim Housing and Council Tax Benefit for up to 13 weeks if you were:

  • On holiday and your personal circumstances remained unchanged;
  • Absent because you were visiting a family member due to bereavement or illness;
  • Absent due to religious reason, for example, attending the Hajj;
  • Working away from home;
  • Sentenced to prison and the custodial period is likely to less than 13 weeks.

Once it becomes clear that your absence is going to exceed 13 weeks your Housing and Council Tax Benefit will cease.

52 week temporary absence

You may be able to get Housing and Council Tax Benefit for a period up to 52 weeks if you are temporarily absent from home for the following reasons:

  • You are a prisoner on remand, including being in resident in a bail hostel;
  • You are a patient in hospital;
  • You are temporarily resident in a care home receiving respite care;
  • You are providing or receiving medically approved care, treatment or convalescence but not in residential care accommodation. Medically approved means that the care is certified by a medical practitioner;
  • Students who qualify for HB / CTB who are studying abroad for a year;
  • You are attending an approved training course;
  • You are living away from home due to a fear of violence.

Trial periods in residential care accommodation

If you go into residential care accommodation on a trial basis you will be entitled to benefit for up to 13 weeks as long as you intend to return home if you decide the accommodation is unsuitable. Once you become a permanent resident in the home your Housing Benefit entitlement at your former address will end.

A special note about hospital stays

If you go into hospital for treatment you maybe entitled to claim benefit for up to 52 weeks, or slightly longer if the circumstances allow. However, if your stay is longer than 4 weeks your entitlement to Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance may cease and this could affect your applicable amount and consequently the amount of Housing and Council Tax Benefit that you are entitled to.

What should I do if I know that I am going to be away from home?

You must write to the Council as soon as you know that you are going to be away from home and that you will continue to need your Housing and Council Tax Benefit in order to meet your Housing Costs. You must provide us with details about the dates you expect to be absent, the reason for your absence, and the address where you will be staying. Once you have returned home you will need to let us know the date upon which you returned.

Whilst you are absent from home?

If during your absence your circumstances change you must inform the Council, in writing, of your new circumstances. The changes we need to know about are:

  • If you decide not to return home;
  • If the reason for your absence changes;
  • If your absence is going to be longer than was initially expected;
  • Or if the date of your return changes.

In addition to these changes in your circumstances you must also keep the Council informed of any other changes that affect your income, capital, household and rent.

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