Benefits and Absence from the home

• Home
• Community, People and Living
• Benefits
• Guide to Benefits
• Benefits and Absence from the home

You can claim Housing Benefit if you are temporarily absent from your home for less than 13 weeks (and up to 52 weeks in certain circumstances).  You must intend to return to your home and your home must not be re-let whilst you are away.

You must make the claim before you leave your home.  If you do not, the normal rules on backdating will apply.

If you are absent for the following reasons, benefit can be paid for up to 52 weeks absence:

• You are on remand (including bail hostels)
• You are a hospital in-patient
• You are undergoing medical approved treatment or convalescence (but NOT in residential care accommodation)
• You are providing medically approved care elsewhere (certified by a medical practitioner)
• You are undertaking an approved training course
• You have left your home through fear of or actual violence.
• You are in residential care on a trial basis.

If you are absent from home and decide that you will not or cannot return within the time limits you must tell the Council straight away. Benefit is not payable from the Monday after such a decision has been made. If benefit is paid after this date the Council will seek to recover any overpayments

The rules on temporary absence do not apply to Council Tax Benefit.  Please contact us for more information.