Visiting abroad on Universal Credit

Rebeccaaa

I've been on Universal Credit for at least over a year now and never left the country. I plan to go to the Netherlands within the next few months to visit a friend for a week and a few days, and because of the length, I knew I'd have to tell my advisor in case they needed me in.

I recall when I was on JSA once before that I heard I wasn't able to leave the country and still be signed on, or at least I wouldn't get paid for the time I was away. Now that Universal Credit is completely different, I wondered how it worked exactly. I've read things online that as long as you can still stick by your commitments (basically as long as you can still prove you're searching for work), you can go away for up to a month at a time. I just wanted some confirmation, although I plan on asking my adviser when I attend my next appointment which is soon.

konark

Yes the theory is you can go abroad for up to a month on UC but you have to keep looking for work and possibly going to interviews including those at the Job Centre, which makes it a bit difficult. A lot will depend on the attitude of your job coach in how practical this will be.

poppy12345

Rebeccaaa wrote: »

I've been on Universal Credit for at least over a year now and never left the country. I plan to go to the Netherlands within the next few months to visit a friend for a week and a few days, and because of the length, I knew I'd have to tell my advisor in case they needed me in.

I recall when I was on JSA once before that I heard I wasn't able to leave the country and still be signed on, or at least I wouldn't get paid for the time I was away. Now that Universal Credit is completely different, I wondered how it worked exactly. I've read things online that as long as you can still stick by your commitments (basically as long as you can still prove you're searching for work), you can go away for up to a month at a time. I just wanted some confirmation, although I plan on asking my adviser when I attend my next appointment which is soon.

Yes you can go BUT the work related requirments mean you have to be available for work at all times, which was what you signed for when you applied for UC. Going abroad for this length of time will mean you won't be available for work. See work related reauirments 93-99 here http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/376/contents/made

You need to tell them you're going and most likely your UC will be affected for the time you're abroad.