Skip to content Accesskeys Newsroom

Change of circumstances - Going Abroad

If you are in receipt of benefits and go abroad they may be affected by this.

Benefits while abroad

Short absences for holidays abroad do not affect most benefits. Continued entitlement to benefit depends whether or not you are going abroad permanently, the type of benefit, and if the country that you have gone to is in the EEA or Switzerland, or one with which we have a Reciprocal Agreement.

(Going Abroad is usually defined as going outside the United Kingdom).

In both temporary or permanent absence from this country if you require information about the payment of their benefits whilst abroad you must inform either their local Social Security or Jobs & Benefits office, the appropriate benefit branch for centrally paid benefits or:

for pension queries:

for other queries:

Overseas Benefit Unit
5th Floor Royston House
34 Upper Queen Street
Belfast
BT1 6FX
Telephone: 028 9054 7488 and 028 9054 7455

You will have to provide the following details:

  • name and National Insurance number and/or the reference number shown on any correspondence which may have been issued previously
  • the address abroad
  • the date of departure from the United Kingdom
  • the method of payment required
  • whether the absence will be temporary or permanent (if temporary, how long it will last)
  • whether the spouse and/or child(ren) will be accompanying the customer
Benefits affected by going abroad Benefits not affected by going abroad
Attendance Allowance Industrial Death Benefit
Bereavement Benefits Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
Carer's Allowance Retirement Allowance
Constant Attendance Allowance
Disability Living Allowance
Employment and Support Allowance
Housing Benefits
Incapacity Benefit
Income Support
Jobseeker's Allowance
Maternity Allowance
Over 80's Pension
Reduced Earnings Allowance
Severe Disablement Allowance
State Retirement Pension
Unemployability Supplement
War Pensions
Widow's Benefits

Whether your benefit is affected or not; If you are going abroad you should in all cases notify the branch that pays your benefit before departure of the reasons for leaving Northern Ireland and to arrange payment during the absence (if appropriate).

Employment and Support Allowance

If you are in receipt of Employment and Support Allowance this may be affected if you go away from home.

In some circumstances, you may keep getting Employment and Support Allowance for up to four weeks during temporary trips abroad. This may apply:

  • for some short trips
  • if you have to go abroad to get medical treatment, or
  • if you live with a member of the armed forces and go overseas with them.

If you get Employment and Support Allowance and you plan to go abroad, you must tell the ESA centre straight away to check if your benefit will be affected.

If you are able to get Employment and Support Allowance while you are abroad, you can arrange for someone else to get your payment for you while you are away. Or you can be paid when you get back and in some circumstances, you can have it paid to you abroad.

More useful links