Benefits abroad

Different benefits have different rules – you may be able to claim some benefits abroad, particularly if you’re in a European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland. Use the Gov.uk benefits abroad tool to find out about specific benefits in different countries or contact our Helpline for advice.

If you’re going abroad temporarily and you’ll be away for four weeks or more, you need to tell the relevant benefit office the details before you go. If you are away for longer than expected, you can keep claiming these benefits for up to 13 weeks. If you’re going abroad for medical treatment, this might be extended to 26 weeks.

If you’re moving permanently to an EEA country or Switzerland, you may be able to claim these benefits if you’ve paid enough National Insurance and meet certain other conditions. Gov.uk has more information about benefits for carers and disabled people when you go abroad.

If you’re going abroad temporarily, you can keep claiming ADP or PADP for up to 13 weeks, or up to 26 weeks if you’re going abroad for medical treatment.

If you move to an EEA country or Switzerland permanently, you may still be able to get ADP or PADP if you meet the eligibility rules. You must tell Social Security Scotland.

You’ll still be able to claim your State Pension if you move abroad, but you’ll only get yearly increases in your pension if you move to:

• EEA countries, Gibraltar or Switzerland
• countries that have a social security agreement with the UK (but not Canada or New Zealand).

If you move back to the UK, your pension will increase to the current rate.

If you’re going abroad temporarily, you can keep getting Pension Credit for up to four weeks if, at the start of your trip, you do not plan to be away for more than four weeks. This may be extended up to eight weeks if you're away because of the death of a close relative.

If you’re going abroad for medical treatment, you may be able to receive Pension Credit for up to 26 weeks. You cannot keep receiving Pension Credit if you move abroad permanently.

You can keep claiming Universal Credit if you’re going abroad for up to a month if, at the start of your trip, you do not plan to be away for more than one month. It may be extended by one more month if a close relative dies while you’re abroad and you cannot reasonably get back to the UK in time.

You must inform your work coach that you're going abroad. 

If you’re going abroad for medical treatment or accompanying your partner or child for treatment, you can get Universal Credit for up to six months.

The rules are slightly different if you are claiming Universal Credit as a couple. Contact Citizens Advice for more information.

If you’re going abroad temporarily and not subletting your property while you’re away, you’ll keep getting Housing Benefit for up to four weeks if, at the start of your trip, you do not plan to be away for more than four weeks. This may be extended up to eight weeks if your trip is caused by the death of your partner or child who is part of your Housing Benefit claim.

If you’re going abroad for medical treatment, you may be able to keep getting Housing Benefit for up to 26 weeks. You cannot keep receiving Housing Benefit if you move abroad permanently.

If you're already getting a bereavement benefit when you move abroad, you can keep getting it – it does not matter where you move to. You may be able to make a new claim if you live in certain countries outside the UK – see the full list of countries at Gov.uk.

If your spouse or civil partner died on or after 6 April 2017 and you meet all the eligibility criteria, you can claim Bereavement Support Payment if you move to an EEA country, Switzerland or Gibraltar. 

If you’re moving abroad, you should tell:

• His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
• your local council, and give them a forwarding or correspondence address
• the International Pension Centre.

If you’re claiming any benefits and planning to leave the UK, even if it’s just for a visit, you’ll also need to tell the relevant benefit offices. If you do not, you could be committing benefit fraud. 

Contact the relevant department for the benefits you are claiming.

• Attendance Allowance – AA helpline
• Personal Independence Payment – PIP enquiry line
• Disability Living Allowance – DLA helpline
• Adult Disability Payment, Pension Age Disability Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Payment – Social Security Scotland
• Carer’s Allowance – Carer’s Allowance Unit
• Carer Support Payment – Social Security Scotland
• State Pension – International Pension Centre
• Pension Credit – Pension Service helpline
• Universal Credit – Universal Credit helpline
• Housing Benefit – contact the housing department of your local council
• Bereavement benefits – International Pension Centre

If you’re moving abroad permanently, contact the Exportability team at the Department for Work and Pensions.

If you live in Scotland, you must also contact Social Security Scotland and let them know that you're moving out of the country.

The UK left the EU on 31 January 2020. There is guidance on what Brexit means for UK nationals living abroad on Gov.uk.

Returning to the UK can affect the tax you pay, so you’ll need to contact the HMRC Residency Helpline.

Before claiming benefits, you may have to pass a Habitual Residence Test, which looks at how long you have been in the UK and checks that you intend to remain settled in the UK. Contact our Helpline if you have any questions about specific benefits.

If you are subject to immigration control, seek specialist advice.