People from the North East can continue to claim Universal Credit if they go abroad - however they must stick to rules imposed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Those who choose to travel to another country can continue to claim the benefit for one month as long as they are eligible for it while they are abroad and they inform their work coach that they're going.
The Liverpool Echo reports how they cannot continue to claim Universal Credit if they move to a different country permanently and they cannot apply for the benefit while they are abroad.
Read more: Full list of DWP Christmas benefit and cost of living payment dates
According to the DWP, if a person's close relative dies while they are abroad they can get Universal Credit for one extra month. However this only applies if it would not be reasonable for them to come back to the UK.
For example, if a claimant was visiting a relative who lives in another country and their relative passed away while they were there, they could get Universal Credit for the extra month. But if a family member in the UK died while the person was aboard they could not.
There are some exceptions to this, including going abroad for medical treatment. A person can continue to claim Universal Credit for six months if they:
- Go abroad for medical treatment
- Go abroad for a period of recovery what's been approved by a medical professional (also known as 'approved convalescence')
- Their partner or child is going aboard for medical treatment or 'approved convalescence' and they are going with them
Before booking a holiday or flight, the claimant should notify the DWP that they intend to go abroad and the reason. If they don't, or if they go abroad for longer than one month and the travel does not fall under the specific circumstances when the one-month period can be extended, then the Universal Credit assessment period is reduced to nil.
This means their next Universal Credit payment will not be paid on the due date, but it won't be terminated altogether. Although they won't get a payment for the period they've been away, they won't have to start their claim again and wait another five weeks.
A DWP spokesperson said: "Claimants must be in Great Britain on the day the Universal Credit claim was submitted. Those who travel abroad or have come back on the same day the claim is submitted may be eligible for Universal Credit.
"If a claimant is unable to accept a Claimant Commitment - the document listing all the things they must do to get UC - because they are abroad on holiday, they won't get the benefit and will be required to make a new claim on their return to the UK."
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