How long can you go abroad when getting benefits

NYM

The OP also asked how long they could be away from home without losing all their benefits.

....and more importantly for how long can I travel without losing my benefits altogether (albeit with effect on them) ?

That suggests to me that the trip abroad is not just a family holiday.

blondebubbles provided a link that answers one part of his original question and lovinituk posted a link regarding the HB issue.

CKhalvashi

blondebubbles wrote: »

With regards to tax credits the actual circumstances of the claim would be needed, it is not a simple yes or no answer.

Eg someone claiming working tax credits takes 6 weeks unpaid leave to go travelling. The fact that they go abroad for 6 weeks is not an issue but as they are on unpaid leave for more than 4 weeks the claim needs to be ended.

This is a point that I was about to raise.

If you're technically unemployed for more than 4 weeks, then the claim will need to end. Interestingly, 4 weeks paid leave and 2 weeks unpaid (just as an example) wouldn't need to be declared.

jga1940

DLA payments abroad

if your entitlement to DLA or AA began before 1/6/92, you may be paid benefit without time limit in another EEA country, if you or any member of your family have been employed or self employed in the UK, and you continue to satisfy all the other conditions of entitlement other than he presence and residence conditions. You can then make a renewal claim whilst you are abroad, but should avoid any break in entitlement between the end of an award and entitlement under the renewal claim.

UK long-term Incapacity Benefit

If you have been insured for sickness in the UK only, you may be able to get UK long-term Incapacity Benefit anywhere you live or stay in the EEA as long as you satisfy the rules and continue to be unfit for work.

See Claiming Benefits Abroad

Also you can contact International Pensions Centre, E-mail : pod-customer-care-ba@MS04.dwp.gsi.gov.uk

See also https://www.gov.uk/claim-benefits-abroad

Hope this helps.

Jim

gilbutre

Hi, thanks all for the input. More details:

I'll be visiting my parents (no expenses there). I'm self-employed, working mostly for clients abroad from home. I'll continue working while being at my parents.

So I guess I can stay there for 8 weeks maximum in order to keep my tax credits and HB, is that correct?

Icequeen99

gilbutre wrote: »

Hi, thanks all for the input. More details:

I'll be visiting my parents (no expenses there). I'm self-employed, working mostly for clients abroad from home. I'll continue working while being at my parents.

So I guess I can stay there for 8 weeks maximum in order to keep my tax credits and HB, is that correct?

In theory you can keep your tax credits.

But I would suggest you keep records of the number of hours you are working while away and what you are doing for those hours - you may well be subject to an investigation of your self-employment at some point and they may query this period when you are abroad.

There is no requirement that the work has to be done in the UK, so yes up to 8 weeks you can continue to claim if you are working.

IQ

gilbutre

Ok, I will. Thank you all!