Returned after Travelling- for 11 months- Habitual Residence Test for JSA?

Vouchers_2

Hello All,

I am a british National and have have just come back to the uk after travelling through asia for the last 11 months? I applied for JSA and was given a Habitual Residence Test to fill out.

Will i be considered a Habitual residence or otherwise as i have been away from the uk for the last 11 months?

How long would it take to process?

Thanks for the help

Kate78

Have you been travelling, come home and are now looking to remain in the UK? If that is the case, it should be fairly straightforward.

I believe that this paperwork will be processed as part of your JSA claim, so it usually takes a few weeks.

Vouchers_2

Yes Kate, Thats exactly the situation. I was just confused by some of the questions on the HRT form. I take it from your reply there should be no problems with my claim?

Kate78

No Vouchers, I shouldn't think so.

Vouchers_2

Thanks Kate for your help. One last question though

While i was travelling, i found a training course for a duration of 4 weeks which was cheap compared to what we pay here. I did the course and i have told the job centre about it. My concern is , would doing the course for 4 weeks out of my 11 months travel be considered as NOT holiday and thus i have lived in another country and be denied Habitual Residence

Thanks again for your help

Person_one

I think you'll be ok. A friend of mine was recently travelling for a year, 5 months of it she was working various menial jobs to help fund the travelling and she had no trouble claiming JSA. My first claim I had been studying abroad and working on campus and it wasn't an issue for me either.

Annisele

I also think you'll be fine.

I'm not an expert on this, but so far as I can tell "habitually resident" isn't defined in statute anywhere, and guidance says that it is to be given its "ordinary and natural meaning". (I can't work out how to post a link to the pdf document I found that in, but it's called dmgch0703 - google that and you'll find it).

I don't think that it would make any sense to say that taking a short course elsewhere meant that you were no longer habitually resident in the UK.

B.E.N

You should be fine - the idea of the "Habitual Residency Test" is to determine where your "centre of interest" is.

Unless you have Property/Family/a Business, etc, abroad, I really wouldn't be too concerned about it.

banana

Yes you will be fine -but dont expect a payment for several weeks at least. The office which deals with HRT is very busy and I have known it to take months to get a resolution. Hopefully this will not be so in your case but be prepared

Vouchers_2

Really appreciate your help, Thank you all!!. I am just hoping it doesnt take more than a few days for it to be sorted out. I've read about some cases taking more than 8 weeks to come to a decision

Vouchers_2

banana wrote: »

Yes you will be fine -but dont expect a payment for several weeks at least. The office which deals with HRT is very busy and I have known it to take months to get a resolution. Hopefully this will not be so in your case but be prepared

Thanks banana, Should i give it a week and perhaps give them a call? Any suggestions would be appreciated as to speeden it up