|
Away from home temporarily |
 |
 |
|
In certain circumstances the Housing Executive will continue to pay your housing benefit if you have to live away from home temporarily. For example, you may have to leave because you are in hospital, in prison, looking after a relative or visiting family abroad.
The Housing Executive will pay your housing benefit for either 13 or 52 weeks depending on your personal circumstances.
When will the Housing Executive keep paying my housing benefit?
If you leave your home temporarily, the Housing Executive can pay your housing benefit if:
- you intend to return to live in your home, and
- you don't rent it out to anyone else, and
- you will be back within 52 weeks.
Back to top
How do the Housing Executive decide how long to pay my housing benefit?
The Housing Executive examines your personal circumstances before deciding whether to pay your housing benefit for 13 or 52 weeks.
Housing benefit for up to 13 weeks
The Housing Executive will pay your housing benefit for up to 13 weeks if:
- you are on holiday
- you are working abroad
- you are doing voluntary work in UK or abroad
- you are staying in residential accommodation on a trial basis
- you are a convicted prisoner serving a sentence up to 13 weeks
- you are unlikely to be away from home for longer than 13 weeks.
Housing benefit for up to 52 weeks
The Housing Executive will pay your housing benefit for up to 52 weeks if:
- you have been admitted to hospital
- you are getting medical treatment
- you are absent because your dependant is receiving medical treatment
- you are on remand or in a bail hostel
- you are in residential accommodation, and you are planning to return home
- you are afraid to return home
- you are unlikely to be away from home for longer than 52 weeks.
The rules about housing benefit are complicated. Get advice if you think you may be eligible for housing benefit when you are away from home.
Back to top
|
Creditors Checklist (
