Other changes in your housing situation
Moving into a new home after a tenancy start date
Provided you are not already liable for rent elsewhere and the delay is reasonable, (for example, the home needs to be adapted for someone with a disability) you may be eligible for Housing Benefit for up to 4 weeks before you actually move in.
If you have a rental liability elsewhere and you delay moving into your new home, we will not be able to pay Housing Benefit on your new home before you move in. If you have to give notice on your old home, we may be able to pay Housing Benefit on your previous home as long as you have moved into your new home.
Being away from home temporarily
If you are going to be away from your home temporarily, you must tell us by completing the Change in Circumstances online form.
We need to know:
- who is going
- where you are going
- how long you expect to be away from home
- the reason for you being away.
To get Housing Benefit when you are away from home temporarily, you must:
- intend to return
- not let or sub let your home
- not be away from your home for longer than the period allowed for your circumstances.
Absence within Great Britain:
If your absence from home is within Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) we can pay Housing Benefit for:
13 weeks, if you are:
- going into a residential home or nursing care home on a trial basis, providing you intend to return home if the trial is unsuccessful.
- away from home for any other reason, such as a holiday, providing you intend to return to your home at the end of the holiday or visit, etc.
52 weeks, if you are:
- being held in custody pending trial or sentence ('on remand')
- living in an approved bail hostel or an address away from your normal home as a condition of bail
- in hospital
- in a care home or independent hospital, for example, during respite care
- receiving medically-approved* care away from home
- away from your home because your partner or child is undergoing medical treatment or medically approved* convalescence
- away from home providing medically-approved* care for someone else
- undertaking a Government approved training course.
* Medically-approved means that that a medical professional (nurse, doctor) has approved the treatment or convalescence.
Read the leaflet Advice for prisoners and ex-offenders on Housing and Council Tax Support if you or a member of your household goes into or comes out of prison within Great Britain.
Absence outside of Great Britain:
If your absence from home is outside of Great Britain we can usually pay Housing Benefit for:
4 weeks, if you are:
- going into a residential home or nursing care home on a trial basis, providing you intend to return home if the trial is unsuccessful
- away from home for any other reason, such as a holiday or visiting family abroad, providing you intend to return to your home at the end of the holiday or visit, etc.
- being held in custody pending trial or sentence ('on remand')
- living in an approved bail hostel or an address away from your normal home as a condition of bail
- away from home providing medically-approved* care for someone else
- undertaking a Government approved training course.
26 weeks, if you are:
- in hospital
- in a care home or independent hospital, for example, during respite care
- receiving medically-approved* care away from home
- away from your home because your partner or child is undergoing medical treatment or medically approved* convalescence.
* Medically-approved means that that a medical professional (nurse, doctor) has approved the treatment or convalescence.
Note that Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are all outside of Great Britain.
Page last updated: 29 September 2023
