An expert in advice and benefits claims has laid out the rules for claimants travelling abroad after a mum from Bracknell had her child benefit wrongly cut.
An expert in advice and benefits claims has laid out the rules for claimants travelling abroad after a mum from Bracknell had her Child Benefit wrongly stopped.
Priscilla Holness, 51, had the Child Benefit for her son Mason cut after a 10-day holiday in Morocco. HMRC stopped the payment of £26.05 per week because staff suspected Ms Holness and Mason had not returned to the UK. They returned home to Warfield after the trip.
Official guidelines say she could have been on holiday for up to eight weeks without raising suspicions.
Claire Oughton, Head of Advice at Citizens Advice East Berkshire (CAEB), has been alerted to the case and set out the general rules.
"As a general rule, if you receive means-tested benefits, you can travel abroad for up to 28 days without notifying the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) or HMRC.
"If you plan to be away for more than 28 days, you should inform the relevant authority that administers your benefits. Failure to do so could result in an overpayment, which you may have to repay. This also applies to any support you receive from your local authority.
"Disability benefits have slightly different rules. If you receive PIP, DLA, or Attendance Allowance, you can continue to receive these for up to 13 weeks abroad—or up to 26 weeks if you’re travelling for medical treatment.
"However, you should still notify the DWP of your plans, as they may investigate later.
"If your benefit is stopped while you’re on holiday, you have the right to challenge the decision if you believe it’s incorrect.
"Ideally, this challenge should be made within one month of the stoppage."
Detailed information on benefits can be found on the national Citizens Advice website. Ms Holness was repaid £182 once it emerged her payment had stopped in error.
The case comes as the government seeks to stop fraudulent Child Benefit claims from people living abroad. It says it hopes to save £350 million by cutting Child Benefit payments to people who have moved abroad, and that a team of 15 investigators prevented around £17 million from being incorrectly paid out in under 12 months.
Following complaints from Ms Holness and other families, HMRC now checks claims with claimants first, writing to them before suspending payments and giving one month to call or write back.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
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