Can I carry on getting my benefits if I go to live abroad?

This information applies to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

As a general rule, you won't get all the benefits you could get if you were living in the UK. So you will need to check with your benefits office which benefits you can claim when you go. This may depend on how long you will be abroad and also what country you are going to.

It can be very difficult to carry on claiming certain benefits if you go abroad. The rules about whether you can claim them are very complicated. If possible, you should try and get specialist advice about your situation before you go abroad. A Citizens Advice Bureau may be able to help you, or put you in touch with someone who can. To search for details of your nearest CAB, including those that can give advice by email, click on nearest CAB.

If you are going abroad, you must let your benefits office know:

• that you are going abroad
• where you are going
• if it's only a temporary move, the date you are planning to come back.

You may be able to carry on getting some benefits while you are abroad. For example, if you're retiring abroad, you can continue to get your UK State Retirement Pension.  However, if your stay there is permanent, you will only get yearly increases in your pension if you are moving to country in the European Economic Area (EEA) or a country which has a special arrangement with the UK. For more information, contact the Pension Service on: 0191 218 7777.

For a list of countries in the EEA, see What benefits can workers get if they come to the UK from abroad.

You may be also able to carry on getting the care part of Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance and Carer's Allowance if you move to another EEA country. For more information, contact your local Jobcentre Plus office or local benefits office.

For a list of countries in the EEA, see What benefits can workers get if they come to the UK from abroad.

You may be able to continue getting some other benefits if you go away for a temporary period. For example, you may be able to get contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance for a temporary period if you go to live in an EEA country. You must meet certain conditions. You can't get income-based Jobseeker's Allowance if you move abroad.

For more information about benefits abroad, visit the directgov website at at: www.direct.gov.uk, or contact your local Jobcentre Plus office or local benefits office.

In Northern Ireland for more information about benefits abroad, visit the nidirect website at: www.nidirect.gov.uk, or contact your local Social Security or Jobs and Benefits Office.

The Department for Work and Pensions website also has a useful guide to benefits in the EEA. Go to www.dwp.gov.uk.

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