Are you going away for a while
Going into hospital
You should tell us immediately if you are going in to hospital. You can let us know by writing to us, you can also email us: benefits@barnet.gov.uk
It is important that you tell us because we will need to look at your benefit entitlement again. Some benefits are reduced if you are in hospital for longer than four or six weeks. However Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit can still be paid while you are in hospital.
If you were not claiming any benefit before going into hospital you may now be entitled to claim.
When you come out of hospital you need to tell us. This is important because you will need to have your benefit entitlement looked at again. You may also be entitled to other benefits if you have become disabled as a result of your illness.
If your property is left empty because you are admitted to hospital on a long-term basis your property will be exempt from Council Tax.
Going away
If you are receiving Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance and you are going away for four weeks or longer, you must tell us. Even if you do not get Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance, it is a good idea to tell us anyway.
You can let us know by writing to us. You need to tell us exactly when you are going away, and when you will come back.
You must tell us if you are going away for longer than 13 weeks. If you have gone away but you are cannot come back within 13 weeks, you must let us know at once. You must tell us why you cannot come back. You can let us know by writing to us, you can also email us: benefits@barnet.gov.uk
Normally we cannot pay any Housing and Council Tax Benefit if you are away for longer than 13 weeks. But there are special circumstances that let us pay you even if you are away for up to 52 weeks.
The special circumstances are:
- if you have left your home because you are afraid of being attacked
- if you are going into hospital
- if you are being cared for somewhere else
- if you are caring for someone who is ill
- if you are in prison on remand
- if you are a student and have to live away from home because of your studies
- if you on a government training course.
We can only pay you benefit if you are away but you still intend to come back to live in your property. You must also confirm that your home has not been rented to someone else during the time you are away.
Email this pageLast modified by: Katherine Kan on 03/10/2008