Getting benefits if you're away from home

If you’re away from home temporarily, you could keep getting your housing costs paid. For example, if you have to go into hospital or stay with family for a while.

There's usually a limit on how long you can keep getting benefits while you're away. You must intend to return home within the time limit.

In some cases, you could also get help to pay rent on the place you're staying temporarily. Check when you can get benefits on two homes.

The rules depend on which benefit you get. Choose the one that applies to you:

If you get the housing element of Universal Credit
If you get Housing Benefit

If you get the housing element of Universal Credit

Staying in England, Scotland or Wales

You can usually get your housing costs paid for up to 6 months if you expect to return home within this time. You can be away for any reason.

Going abroad

If you’re going somewhere outside Great Britain, your housing costs can usually be paid for up to 1 month. This includes if you're going to Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

In some cases your housing costs could be paid for longer:

up to 6 months if you’re abroad to get medical treatment for yourself, your partner or your child
up to 2 months if you’re abroad because of the death of a close relative, and it’s unreasonable for you to return sooner

Close relatives include your partner, parents or step-parents, children or step-children, siblings and in-laws.

Away due to fear of violence

Your housing costs can be paid for up to 12 months if you intend to return home. You must be staying in England, Scotland or Wales.

Fear of violence could include:

domestic abuse from a partner, former partner or relative
threats or violence from others, such as racist attacks from neighbours

You can also get benefits towards rent in your temporary home for up to 12 months.

If you’re experiencing domestic abuse, get help with somewhere safe to stay.

If you want to move out permanently, but you're having problems getting out of a joint tenancy, contact a Shelter Scotland adviser.

Away due to essential repairs

If you have to move out temporarily for repairs, you can usually get your housing costs paid until the repair work is done. For example, if your home has been flooded.

If you do not have to pay rent on your home while the repair work is being done, you can get benefits to help pay rent at your temporary address instead.

Going into prison

You could get your housing costs paid for up to 6 months if:

you were getting the housing element immediately before going to prison
you expect to return home within 6 months

This could be if you're on remand, waiting for sentencing, or you've been sentenced and are likely to be released within 6 months. The Prison Service can confirm your earliest release date.

Going into residential rehabilitation

The council has specific funding to help you keep your tenancy and pay for rent costs in rehab. This is called the Dual Housing Support Fund.

Contact the council and explain your circumstances. Find your council's details on GOV.UK.

If you have problems getting your benefits paid

Contact Citizens Advice. A benefits adviser can help you provide the right evidence and challenge a benefits decision.

If you get Housing Benefit

Staying in England, Scotland or Wales

You can usually get Housing Benefit for up to 13 weeks if you expect to return home within this time. You can be away for any reason.

You could get Housing Benefit for up to 52 weeks if you intend to return home and:

you’re staying in a care home or hospital, or receiving approved medical care
you’re providing medically approved care for someone or looking after a child whose parent is in hospital
you’re in prison on remand awaiting trial, or you've been convicted but are awaiting sentencing
you have to be away from home as a condition of bail
you're away due to domestic abuse or fear of violence

Going abroad

If you’re going somewhere outside Great Britain, your Housing Benefit can usually be paid for up to 4 weeks. This includes if you're going to Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

It could be paid for up to 8 weeks if you’re abroad because of the death of a close relative. The council has to agree that it’s unreasonable for you to return sooner. Close relatives include:

your partner
parents or step-parents
children or step-children
siblings
in-laws

You could get Housing Benefit for up to 26 weeks if you're abroad because:

you’re getting medical treatment for yourself, your partner or your child
you're in the Armed Forces and on an overseas operation
you're a mariner or continental shelf worker
you're away due to fear of violence in your home or from a former partner

Away due to fear of violence

Your housing costs can be paid for up to 52 weeks if you intend to return home. You must be staying in England, Scotland or Wales.

Fear of violence could include:

domestic abuse from a partner, former partner or relative
threats or violence from others, such as racist attacks from neighbours

You can also get benefits towards rent in your temporary home for up to 52 weeks.

If you've moved out and you do not intend to return home, you could keep getting Housing Benefit for up to 4 weeks.