Housing

Housing Benefit, Local Housing Allowance: What to do if you can't live in the home you're claiming for

This area contains the following information about What to do if you can't live in the home you're claiming for:

Temporary Absence
Holidays
Prisoners on Remand
Hospital Patients
Residential Care
Medical Treatment
What you should do if you're going to be away

Temporary Absence

You normally need to be living in the home that you are claiming financial help for but might still get help whilst you are temporarily absent as long as you intend to return home and the property is not re-let.

Holidays

Normally you can continue receiving help while you're away as long as the absence does not exceed thirteen weeks. We may ask you for information about how the trip is being funded. If you're on a working holiday we will need to see evidence of any income you receive as it may affect your claim.

Prisoners on Remand

You can continue to get help for up to 52 weeks. However, once sentenced, if it is clear that the period of absence will be for more than 13 weeks then all help will stop from the date of sentence.

Hospital Patients

You can keep getting help for up to 52 weeks.

Residential Care

There are several different rules:

If you enter a home on a permanent basis you are no longer entitled to help
If you enter residential care with the intention of returning home, you can be entitled to help for up to 52 weeks
If you go into residential care on a trial basis, you can keep getting help for up to 13 weeks

Medical Treatment

Benefit can be paid for 52 weeks if you are getting medical treatment or medically approved convalescence but not in residential care. Or if you are caring for a child whose guardians are receiving medically approved care.

What you should do if you're going to be away

As soon as you know you, or any member of your household, are going to be absent from your property for any length of time you must contact us with the following information:

The date you are leaving
The date you expect to return
The reason for the absence
A contact address in case we need further information from you
You will also need to tell us when you return

We will do one of three things:

Continue your benefit for 13 or 52 weeks as appropriate
Write to you for further information before a decision is made
Cancel your benefit if you do not fall into one of the qualifying categories described above

We will write to you with our decision and you will be given the opportunity to appeal. As soon as you decide you will not be returning home you must contact us.

This page last updated: 27/03/2008