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 or the same amount of housing benefit 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 housing benefit or the same amount of housing benefit 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 two homes
- a student not excluded from receiving housing benefit who has to study abroad as part of the course
- receiving temporary residential care.
In all cases you can only continue to qualify for housing benefit or the same amount of housing benefit 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).