Temporary Absence

Temporarily Absent from your home?

There are certain circumstances where benefit can be paid for a period of 13 or 52 weeks depending on the situation you are in.

Criteria have been set which must be fulfilled prior to benefit continuing throughout the period of Temporary Absence.

• You must have an intention to return to your property; and
• The part of the property that you normally occupy must not have been let or sublet; and
• The period of absence must be unlikely to exceed 13 or 52 weeks. If the absence is likely to exceed 13 or 52 weeks no benefit will be paid.

If your circumstances are outlined below and you fulfil the above criteria benefit will only be paid for a period of 13 weeks

• If you are absent form your property for a period unlikely to exceed 13 weeks benefit will continue to be paid. This could be if you go abroad for a holiday or to visit family.
• If you are on a trial period in residential accommodation, to see if the home meets your needs, benefit will be paid for 13 weeks or until the move is made permanent, whichever is the earlier

If your circumstances fall into any of the categories outlined below and you fulfil the above criteria then you may still get your benefit for a maximum of 52 weeks

• If you are on remand, including if you are in a bail hostel
• If you are in hospital or a similar institution as a patient
• If you are undergoing medical treatment or medically approved convalescence
• If you are undertaking a training course, in the UK or elsewhere
• If you are providing medically approved care
• If you are providing care for a child, who is under 16, whose parent or guardian is receiving medical treatment or medically approved care
• If you are receiving medically approved care in the UK or elsewhere but not in residential accommodation
• If you are in temporary care in residential accommodation but not residing there on a trial basis
• If you have left your property through fear of violence and you are not eligible for benefit in your new circumstances and because for example you are staying with a close relative and are not liable to pay rent on two homes but you do intend to return to occupy your original home

If you are moved to temporary accommodation, due to essential repairs being carried out on the property that you normally occupy as your home, and you are liable to make payments in respect of either (not both) the property which you normally occupy as your home or the temporary accommodation. You will be treated as occupying the property that you are liable to make rental payments for.

The Temporary Absence must be a continuous period for example if you had been in hospital for a period of 16 weeks benefit would be paid for this time. However if during this 16 weeks period you had been discharged from hospital for a minimum time of 24 hours after 10 weeks and you then you were readmitted to hospital the 52 weeks temporary absence period would begin again from the date of readmission.

These circumstances do not apply to prisoners whom are still treated as in custody so the 52 weeks period would be from the date of remand up until the 52nd week.

If you are Temporarily absent from your home please inform us in writing or request a Temporary Absence form from our office.