UC and holidays abroad

rbz
rbz Online Community Member Posts: 139 Contributor
in Universal Credit (UC)

Please tell me rules about holidays abroad during UC claim.

How many days per year claimant can spend abroad without affect to UC award?

There no limits? Just every trip must be less than 4 weeks?

For example this means person can go for holidays every month for 3 weeks (3 weeks abroad and one week at home)?

Comments

  • peters77
    peters77 Online Community Member Posts: 102 Connected

    I think I read you have to notify them of leaving the country for any length of time incase of appointments.

    Did read somewhere they know when you leave no idea how true that is.

    Don’t quote me though.

  • rbz
    rbz Online Community Member Posts: 139 Contributor
    edited January 15
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/968184#Comment_968184

    Yes, I know about report before leaving country.

    My question were focused on holiday amount/length during year.

    Not single trip, but during whole year.

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,050 Championing

    That depends on your circumstances. If you have work commitments for UC and you’re out of the country you will likely be expected to continue with those while you’re away. This would include any appointments.

    If you have LCWRA or you’re claiming carers element then you have no work commitments so you can go abroad for up to 1 month. Please note, it’s 1 month, not 4 weeks. The day you go and return are not counted. There’s no rules for how many times you go each year but whether they may question that is a different matter. Any longer than this at any one time would mean your UC would end.

    If you have LCWRA or are a carer because you have no commitments you don’t need to report being out of the country for less than 1 month. Some people may argue that you need to report it but as my daughter’s appointee when we go away each year, I don’t report it.

  • rbz
    rbz Online Community Member Posts: 139 Contributor
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/968224#Comment_968224

    @poppy123456

    Thanks for your message.

    My wife receive Carers allowance, but we always report UC office even we go abroad just for 1 day .

    You said Carers allowance claimants don't need to report trips abroad (for under 1 month).

    Please let me know grounds/law, because UC office staff pushing everyone to declare trips abroad regardless of claimant circumstances.

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,050 Championing

    I’m afraid I can’t provide anything to suggest that it should or shouldn’t be reported. If you have to work commitments and it’s less than 1 month, there’s nothing to report.

    As I advised, some people think it should be reported and some people think it shouldn’t. I’m one of those that think it doesn’t need to be reported and I’m not doing anything wrong by not reporting it.

  • rbz
    rbz Online Community Member Posts: 139 Contributor
    edited January 15
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/968366#Comment_968366

    @poppy123456

    I think government introduced some new rules from mid of 2024 about travelling outside the UK.

    Before mid 2024 everyone can travel abroad without telling to DWP. At least there was no sanctions for not reporting.

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,050 Championing
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/968393#Comment_968393

    That’s the first I’ve heard of that. Do you have a link to show please so I can read that?

    The law says you can travel for up to one month. The guidance say need to report any travel abroad. Up to one month if you have no commitments for UC is allowed and will not affect your claim.

    If you travel and have UC commitments and don’t keep them up you can be sanctioned.

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