question about benefits whilst on holiday in australia.

mjs12345

my sister in law is planning to visit her boyfriend for 6 months at a time in Australia (he lives there) using a holiday Visa, at the same time she intends to still claim housing and council tax benefit, tax credits etc (everything a single mother gets) and get her money sent to her whilst in Aus.
Surely this is fraud?? if not it is a disgrace!!

Emmzi

call the benefit fraud hotline and ask them?

mjs12345

thanks, just found out information on the benefit fraud website...
If you go abroad

Remember – if you claim benefits and go abroad, for any amount of time, you must tell us before you go as it could affect your benefits.
Below are a few examples.

• Income Support – example

Sarah is taking the kids on holiday to France for six weeks this summer to stay with her sister. Because she is on Income Support and staying abroad for more than four weeks this will affect her claim and she must tell her local benefits office before she goes.

• Jobseeker’s Allowance – example

Martin is on Jobseeker’s Allowance and decides to go off on holiday with this mates to Ibiza. If he doesn't tell us he's going, he's committing benefit fraud. If you are on Jobseeker’s Allowance, you need to let us know straight away that you are going abroad for any amount of time – even if it’s for a holiday – as this may affect your claim.

• Pension Credit – example

It’s October and Elsie and Reg are off to Benidorm for six months to spend winter in the sun. Because they receive Pension Credit and are away for more than 13 weeks this will affect their claim and they need to let us know they are going.

These are just examples of how going abroad might affect certain benefits. For more advice on how this applies to you, contact the office that pays your benefits.
If you go abroad and continue to claim benefits you’re not entitled to it could mean prosecution, imprisonment and even the confiscation of your home and possessions.

melbi_uk

If she doesn't work how the hell is she going to pay for her flights?

dseventy

Just shop her in to the fraud people, this can be done without giving a name.

Watch her boyfriend drop her like a hot potato when she can't pay her way (or get a job on her visa).

D70

pandaspot

Thing is tho she is still allowed to claim hb and ctb while away. Called temporary absence, as long as she has intention to return then she can get hb and ctb for up to 52 weeks



Error it's 13 weeks

Tigsteroonie

And of course there's less chance of being caught working cash-in-hand when she's abroad.

pandaspot

Australia are pretty strict on foreigners who attempt to work. Isn't a holiday visa 3 months?

It's 13 weeks she can claim hb and ctb abroad

People claiming who are on holiday

If you go abroad for a holiday or religious or domestic reasons, or simply take a holiday in the UK, you may be entitled to claim Housing Benefit on your usual home for up to 13 weeks.
In some cases we may ask to see evidence of how you have paid for the trip and how you have supported yourself (and any family) while you are away from home.
If you have told us that you will be away for a certain period of time, you must tell us when you return. If you do not tell us at the expected return date, we may suspend your claim.
Always get advice about all benefits before going abroad.

melbi_uk

How long can benefit be paid

Housing and/or council tax benefit can be paid for up to 13 weeks while you are away.

If you are receiving income support or jobseekers allowance, this will stop if you go abroad. This will also mean your housing benefit and/or council tax benefit will be suspended until you contact us about your change of circumstances and income.

[Deleted User]

pandaspot wrote: »

Thing is tho she is still allowed to claim hb and ctb while away. Called temporary absence, as long as she has intention to return then she can get hb and ctb for up to 52 weeks

Not right.............

http://www.hounslow.gov.uk/index/housing/housing_benefit/housing_benefit_temporary_absence.htm
What do we mean by temporarily absent?

• ·You must plan to return to live in the property.
• ·The part of the property you normally live in must not have been relet or sublet to someone else.
• ·You must not be absent for more than 13 or 52 weeks (see below).

Absences up to 13 weeks

We can continue to pay you Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit for temporary absences of up to 13 weeks.
However, you must let us know if any of your income is affected by your absence, for example, if Income Support stops, as this is a change in your circumstances that will affect your entitlement to Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.
If you are likely to be absent for more than a month, you should let us know in case we write to you about your benefit while you are away. If you are absent, or are likely to be absent for more than 13 weeks, you must tell us before you leave.
You will not qualify for Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit if you are going to be absent for 13 or more weeks, unless there are special circumstances.
Absences up to 52 weeks

We can continue to pay you Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit for temporary absences of up to 52 weeks in special circumstances. These include the following.

• ·A prisoner on remand
• ·In a bail hostel, or bailed to lived away from home
• ·In a care home or independent hospital, for example, for respite care
• ·In hospital, or receiving medically approved care
• ·Receiving medical treatment or medically approved care, or absent because your partner or child is receiving this
• ·Providing medically approved care
• ·Providing care for a child whose parent or guardian is receiving medical treatment or medically approved care
• ·Following an approved government training course (please ask for more details)
• ·Certain students who are eligible for Housing Benefit
• ·Absent due to fear of violence
• (Medically approved care must be confirmed by a medical practitioner, for example, your doctor or a nurse.) If you are going to be absent for more than 52 weeks, but not for much longer than that, we can, in exceptional circumstances, still pay you Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit for up to 52 weeks.