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Temporary absence

Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit can normally only be paid for accommodation that you occupy as your normal home. If you are temporarily away from your home, in certain circumstances Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit can still be paid. Temporary absence rules may mean you can still get Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit if you are away from your home.

Before you go away you must let the Housing Benefits Service know.

There are three different rules:

• Up to 13 weeks for most types of absence
• Up to 52 weeks in certain special cases
• Trial periods in residential accommodation

Temporary absence rules - 13 weeks

You can get Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit for up to13 weeks while you are temporarily away from your home as long as you meet all these conditions:

• You intend to return to live in the property as your home and
• The part of the property occupied by you is not sublet and
• The period of absence is unlikely to go over 13 weeks.

If you know that your absence will last more than 13 weeks, your benefit will stop from the beginning of the absence.

Temporary absence rules - 52 weeks

You can get Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit for up to 52 weeks while you are temporarily away from your home as long as you meet all these conditions:

• You intend to return to live in the property as your home and
• The part of the property occupied by you is not sublet and
• The period of absence is unlikely to go over 52 weeks.

The rules only apply if you are:

• A prisoner, but only where you are either held on remand, or detained in an approved bail hostel awaiting trial - all other prisoners are subject to the 13 week rule.
• In hospital as a patient
• Getting medical treatment or medically approved convalescence in the UK or abroad but not in 'residential care accommodation'
• Undertaking an approved training course in the UK or abroad
• Providing medically approved care
• Receiving medically approved care but not in 'residential care accommodation'
• A student who qualifies for Housing Benefit (for example if you have to travel aboard as part of your course)
• In fear of violence but you intend to return to live in the property
• Receiving temporary care in residential care accommodation but not residing there on a trial basis.

Trial period

If you are in residential accommodation for a trail period please contact the Housing Benefits Service for advice.