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Hi, my name is DredDOK! How can I extend the 28 days we're allowed to be abroad?

DredDOK

Hello guys, my name is Andrey, I came to your wonderful country from Ukraine, I will not describe why I came here, thinking you yourself understand everything. I have small children, we started getting a universal сredit. There was trouble, a close relative fell ill and you need to go to Germany to help with care. We were told that if I was gone for 28 days, there would be no payment. Tell me how to properly extend these 28 days, I need time up to two months. sorry for my English

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poppy123456

The only time it can be extended is if a close relative dies while you're abroad and it would not be reasonable for you to come back to the UK, you can get Universal Credit for one more month, so a maximum of 2 months.

Going for reasons to help with care wouldn't qualify for your UC to continue after 1 month.

https://www.gov.uk/claim-benefits-abroad/universal-credit

Unfortunately, the time won't be extended for going abroad for longer than 1 month to care for a relative.

You will need to make sure you report the changes on your journal and your UC will end. If you don't report the changes you will have an overpayment which will need to be repaid back.

Once you return to the UC if it's within 6 months, you can log onto your journal and make a rapid reclaim.

I hope your relative recovers soon!

DredDOK

poppy123456 said:

The only time it can be extended is if a close relative dies while you're abroad and it would not be reasonable for you to come back to the UK, you can get Universal Credit for one more month, so a maximum of 2 months.
Going for reasons to help with care wouldn't qualify for your UC to continue after 1 month.
https://www.gov.uk/claim-benefits-abroad/universal-credit
Unfortunately, the time won't be extended for going abroad for longer than 1 month to care for a relative.
You will need to make sure you report the changes on your journal and your UC will end. If you don't report the changes you will have an overpayment which will need to be repaid back.
Once you return to the UC if it's within 6 months, you can log onto your journal and make a rapid reclaim.
I hope your relative recovers soon!

What if I request a phone interview? thus I will delay the time and then I will take 28 days, I would not want to set myself up for the death of a loved one

poppy123456

Just to add further that when you're out of the country your claimant commiments will still need to be completed, so if this means looking for work and attend appointments then you will need to do that. You can request a telephone apppointment but if they don't agree then you will need to attend in person. If you don't then you could be sanctioned.

The 1 month rule still applies because it's the law.

DredDOK said:

I would not want to set myself up for the death of a loved one

Can you explain what you mean by that please?

DredDOK

I meant that I do not want to think that my relative will die
I don’t understand English well. Sometimes I use Google translator, maybe he translated it to me like that

poppy123456

That’s ok, I understand you now. I’m sorry but there isn’t a way to continue to claim UC after 1 month. If you do continue then you will owe them money. You will also need to continue with your commitments while you are away.

Tori_Scope

Welcome to the community @DredDOK

Thank you for joining us!

I'm sorry to hear about your difficult situation. I can see that you've received some advice on this already, which I hope has helped you to understand the rules around going abroad.

Do you mind me asking why your relative has to go to Germany to receive treatment? There's no pressure to answer if you're not comfortable doing so.

DredDOK

Hello, thanks for the welcome. I already said that from Ukraine, because of the war, my whole family was scattered throughout the European Union, I am here but my parents are in Germany, and my father has health problems, he is 70 years old and he needs to have an operation, they are now in Germany and I have to go there