child benefit: coming to or leaving the uk

CH5 notes

Child Benefit: coming to or leaving the UKKeep these notes for future reference

ContentsIntroduction 1

Definitions 1

ComingtotheUK 2

Presence,ordinarilyresidentandrighttoreside 3

Meaningofpresence 3

Meaningofordinarilyresident 3

PeopledeportedtotheUK 4

Meaningofrighttoreside 4

EUSettlementScheme 5

LivingintheUKfor3months 5

Periodof3monthsresidence 6

Crownservantsworkingabroad 7

TheEuropeanEconomicArea 7

Immigrationcontrol 8

Meaningof‘subjecttoimmigrationcontrol’ 8

Agreementswithothercountries 9

IsleofMan 10

Goingabroad 10

GoingabroadtoanEEAcountryorSwitzerland 10

Goingabroadpermanently 11

Goingabroadtemporarily 11

Ifyourchildgoesabroad 12

Howtocontactusforhelp 13

1

About these notesReadthesenotescarefullyandkeepthemina

safeplace.Youmayneedtolookatthemagain.

IntroductionThesenotestellyouaboutspecialChildBenefitrulesifyou’reeitherpermanentlyortemporarily:• comingtotheUKfromabroad• leavingtheUK

DefinitionsAbroadmeansanywhereoutsidetheUK.

UKisEngland,Scotland,WalesandNorthernIreland(butnottheChannelIslandsortheIsleofMan).

EuropeanEconomicArea(EEA)countriesare:Austria,Belgium,Bulgaria,Croatia,Cyprus,CzechRepublic,Denmark,Estonia,Finland,France,Germany,Greece,Hungary,Iceland,Ireland,Italy,Latvia,Liechtenstein,Lithuania,Luxembourg,Malta,Netherlands,Norway,Poland,Portugal,Romania,Slovakia,Slovenia,SpainandSweden.

Permanentabsencemeansanabsenceabroadthat’slikelytolastmorethan52weeksfromwhenitbegins.

Temporaryabsencemeansanabsenceabroadthat’sunlikelytolastmorethan52weeksfromwhenitbegins.

Subjecttoimmigrationcontrolmeans:• theHomeOfficesaysyourleavetoenterorremainintheUKis

ontheconditionthatyoudonotclaimbenefits,taxcreditsorhousinghelppaidbytheUKgovernment(knownas‘havingnorecoursetopublicfunds’)

• yourequireleavetoenterorremainintheUKbutdonothaveit• youhaveleavetoenterorremainintheUKgivenasaresultofa

maintenanceundertaking

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Coming to the UKYoucanapplyforChildBenefitifyou,andthechildorchildrenyou’reresponsiblefor,usuallyliveintheUK.Shortabsencesabroad,suchasa2weekholidayortovisitrelativesforaperiodoflessthan8weeks,willnotaffectyourrighttoChildBenefit(seepage11formoredetails).

Therearealsosomeextrarulesabout:• presence• ordinarilyresident• righttoreside• livingintheUKfor3months• immigrationcontrol

TheserulesmayaffectyourrighttogetChildBenefit.We’veexplainedthembelow.

IfyouoryourchildrendonotliveintheUKbutliveinanEEAcountryorSwitzerland(seepage1forlistofEEAcountries),youmaystillbeabletogetChildBenefitifyousatisfyspecificconditions.

Formoreinformationread‘TheEuropeanEconomicArea’onpage7.

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Presence, ordinarily resident and right to resideYoumustbepresent,ordinarilyresidentandhavearighttoresideintheUKtogetChildBenefit.

Meaning of presence

Normally,youhavetobephysicallypresentintheUKeverydayduringtheperiodofaChildBenefitaward.TherearerulesthatallowyourrighttoChildBenefittocontinueduringshorttemporaryabsences.Formoreinformationread‘Goingabroadtemporarily’onpage11.

Meaning of ordinarily resident

You’reordinarilyresidentifyou:• normallyliveintheUK,apartfromgoingabroadtemporarily–

formoreinformationreadpage11• havechosentoliveandsettleintheUKaspartoftheregular

orderofyourlifeforthetimebeing

Someexamplestohelpshowwhetheryouare,orarenot,ordinarilyresidentare:• you’reintheUKforaholiday–alikelysignyou’renot

ordinarilyresident• youplantoleavetheUKinthenearfuture–thismayshowthat

youhavenotsettledhereandarenotordinarilyresident• yourpartner,ifyouhaveone,andyourchildrenhavealsocome

toliveintheUK–thismayshowthatyouandyourfamilyplantostayintheUKandyou’reordinarilyresident

• yourpresenceintheUKispartofaregularpatternoflivingintheUKoveranumberofyearsorit’sthestartofsuchapattern–thismayshowthatyou’reordinarilyresident

• you’vealreadylivedhereforanumberofyears–wewouldnormallyacceptthatyou’reordinarilyresident

Youcanbeordinarilyresidentinmorethanonecountry.ThefactthatyoumighthaveahomeinanothercountrydoesnotmeanthatyoucannotalsobeordinarilyresidentintheUK.Ifyou’renotsureifyou’reordinarilyresident,tellusaboutyourcircumstancesandwe’llletyouknow.

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People deported to the UK

Ifyou’reherebecauseyou’vebeendeported,expelledorlegallyandcompulsorilyremovedfromanothercountry,wetreatyouasordinarilyresidentforthepurposesofChildBenefit.

Meaning of right to resideYouhavearighttoresideintheUKifoneofthefollowingapply:• you’reaUKnational• youhavearighttoresideintheCommonTravelArea(this

includestheUK,RepublicofIreland,ChannelIslandsandIsleofMan)

• you’reanon-CommonTravelAreanationalwithpermissiontoenterorremainintheUK

• you’reanEEAorSwissnationalqualifiedperson,oryouhaveSettledStatus(notPre-Settledstatus)undertheHomeOfficeEUSettlementScheme(EUSS)

YoumayalsohavearighttoresideintheUKifyou’re:• anEEAorSwissnationalwho

–isinworkthatisgenuineandeffective,ifyou –canproveyouhaveorwillbeearning£183(gross)

aweekormoreforatleast3continuousmonths,you’llautomaticallybeconsideredtobeinworkthatisgenuineandeffective

–cannot,you’llbeaskedtoprovethattheworkisgenuineandeffective

–isajobseeker–after91days,ifyouhaveajobofferorcompellingevidencethatyouhaveagenuinechanceoffindingwork,you’llbeabletocontinueclaimingChildBenefitasajobseeker,butonlyforashortperiod

–hasapermanentrighttoreside–isself-sufficientandyouhavecomprehensivesickness

insuranceforyourselfandanyfamilymembersintheUK–isastudentandyouhavesufficientresourcesandhave

comprehensivesicknessinsuranceforyourselfandanyfamilymembersintheUK

• afamilymemberofanEEAorSwissnationalwhohasarighttoreside,thismeans–aspouseorcivilpartneranddescendantswhoaredependent

onthemorareunder21 –dependentrelativesoftheclaimant,spouseorcivilpartnerin

theascendingline(forexample,parentsorgrandparents)

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Ifnoneoftheseapplytoyou,youmaynothavearighttoreside.Ifyourcircumstanceschangeandnoneoftheseapplytoyouanymore,youmayloseyourrighttoresideandyoumusttellusaboutthesechangesstraightaway.

Ifyou’renotsureifyouhavearighttoreside,tellusaboutyourcircumstancesandwe’llletyouknow.

EU Settlement SchemePre-settledstatus(LimitedLeavetoRemain)undertheEUSettlementSchemeisnot,onitsown,arighttoresideforthepurposesofChildBenefit.Ifyouhavesettledstatus(IndefiniteLeavetoRemain)undertheEUSettlementSchemeyou’llbeabletoclaimChildBenefitonthesamebasisasUKnationals,providedyoumeetalleligibilityrequirements.

Formoreinformation,gotoGOV.UKandsearchforEUSettlementScheme

Living in the UK for 3 monthsIfyouenteredtheUKonorafter1July2014andyou’renotworking,you’llneedtoliveintheUKfor3monthsbeforeyoucanclaimChildBenefit.Thisruledoesnotapplyif:• you’reaworkerorareself-employedintheUK• youwereworkingorwereself-employedintheUK,butyou –weremaderedundantand –you’reregisteredasajobseekerwiththerelevant

employmentoffice –you’vestartedavocationaltrainingcourseoryou’veleft

workandstartedvocationaltrainingrelatedtoyourpreviousemployment

–aretemporarilyunabletoworkasaresultofanoccupationalillness,illnessduetopregnancyoranaccidentatwork

–areafamilymemberofsuchaperson• you’reafamilymemberofapersonwhoisworkingor

self-employedintheUK• you’renormallyordinarilyresidentintheUKandreceiving

ChildBenefitandreturntotheUKafteratemporaryabsenceoflessthan52weeks–formoreinformationreadpage11

• youwereordinarilyresidentintheUKforacontinuousperiodof3monthsimmediatelybeforeyouleftandreturntotheUKafteratemporaryabsenceoflessthan52weeks

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• whenworkingabroadinanEEAcountryyouwereself-employedandregisteredwithHMRevenueandCustoms(HMRC)forSelf-Assessment,andprovidedevidencetoshowthatyourworkwasgenuineandeffective

• you’reanon-EEAnationalwhoisworkingorself-employedintheUKandarenotrestrictedfromreceivingChildBenefitbecauseofyourimmigrationstatus

• you’rearefugeeandhavebeennotifiedbytheHomeOfficeofyourrefugeestatus

• you’vebeengrantedoneofthefollowing –discretionaryleavetoenterorremainintheUKwithrecourse

topublicfunds –leavetoremainpendinganapplicationforleavetoremainasa

victimofdomesticviolence –leavetoremainundertheDisplacedPersons(Temporary

Protection)Regulations –humanitarianprotection• youoryourpartner,ifyouhaveone,areaCrownServantposted

overseasandhavereturnedtotheUK• you’vearrivedintheUKbecauseyou’vebeendeported,expelled

orlegallyandcompulsoryremovedfromanothercountry• youreturntotheUK(butnotasanemployedorself-employed

person)afteraperiodabroadandwhereyou’vepaidClass1orClass2contributionsforaperiodofupto3monthsendingonthedayofreturning

Period of 3 months residence

IfyourecentlyarrivedintheUKbuthadtogoabroadforashortperiodoftime,we’lluseacommonsenseapproachtodecideifyouceasedtobe‘livingin’theUKduringthisabsence.We’lllookatallthefactsandcircumstancesofyourcase,includingthereasonyouleftandthelengthoftimeyouwereabsentfromtheUK.

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Crown servants working abroadSpecialrulesapplyifyouoryourpartner,ifyouhaveone,workabroadasaCrownservant.ByCrownservantwemeanaUKcivilservantormemberofHerMajesty’sarmedforceswhoareworkingabroadfortheUKgovernment.

YoucanclaimChildBenefitifyou’reaCrownservantworkinganywhereoutsidetheUK–whetherornotyourchildgoesabroadwithyouorstaysintheUK.

BeforeyouwerepostedabroadyoumusthavebeeneitherlivinginorpostedtotheUK.

Whileyou’reservingabroad,wewillnormallypayChildBenefitintoanaccountintheUK.

The European Economic Area

Ifyou’reanEEAorSwissnationallivingintheUK,youcannormallygetChildBenefitifyousatisfytheconditionsinthesection‘Presence,ordinarilyresidentandrighttoreside’onpage3.Therearespecialrulesif:• you’reintheUKbutyourchildlivesinanEEAcountry

orSwitzerland• bothyouandyourchildliveinanEEAcountryorSwitzerland

YoumaystillbeentitledtoChildBenefitifyou:• areemployedorselfemployedandpayUKNational

Insurancecontributions• getfromtheUK,Contributoryjobseeker’sallowance,

ContributoryEmploymentandSupportAllowance,UKStatePensionorUKIndustrialInjuriesDisablementBenefit

YouwillnotbeabletogetChildBenefitifyourchildorchildrenliveinanEEAcountryorSwitzerlandunlessEUsocialsecuritycoordinationrulesapply.EUsocialsecuritycoordinationrulesarelikelytoapplyifyouareanEEAorSwissnationalresidentintheUKbefore1January2021.YouneedtoapplytotheEUSettlementSchemebythedeadlineof30June2021toprotectyourentitlementtolive,workandaccessbenefitsandservices.

Formoreinformationgotowww.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families

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Immigration controlYoumaynotbeabletogetChildBenefitifyou’resubjecttoimmigrationcontrol.

Meaning of subject to immigration control

You’resubjecttoimmigrationcontrolif:• theHomeOfficehasgrantedyoupermissiontostayintheUK

onthegroundsyouhavenorecoursetopublicfunds• youdonothavepermissiontostayintheUK-againknownas

‘leavetoenterorremain’oryourpermissiontostayintheUKhasexpired,beenrevokedorcurtailedbytheHomeOffice

• you’vebeenrefusedpermissiontostayintheUK,appealedthisandarestillwaitingforadecision

• you’vebeengivenpermissiontostayintheUK,butontheconditionthatsomeoneelse,likeafriendorrelative,paysforyourmaintenanceandprovidesyouwithsomewheretolive

Ifyou’resubjecttoimmigrationcontrol,youmaystillhavetherighttogetChildBenefitifyou’rea:• sponsoredimmigrantunderHomeOfficerules• nationalof,orhavecometoliveintheUKfrom,acountrythat

hasaspecialagreementwiththeUKcoveringChildBenefit–formoreinformationread‘Agreementswithothercountries’onpage9

• familymemberofanEEAorSwissnationalqualifiedperson• nationalofAlbania,Morocco,SanMarino,TunisiaorTurkey,

whoisalawfulworkerintheUK,oramemberofthefamilyofsuchapersonandyou’relivingwiththem

Alawfulworkerissomeonewhohaspermissiontoworkandisworking.

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YouarenotsubjecttoimmigrationcontrolforChildBenefitpurposesifyou:• areanationaloftheUK• havebeengivenleavetoentertheUK,withoutrestrictionon

youraccesstopublicfunds• havebeengivenleavetostayintheUK–foralimitedperiod

(unlessit’sontheconditionthatyoudonothaverecoursetopublicfunds)

• havebeengivenleavetostayintheUK–foranindefiniteperiod

• haveclaimedasylumandbeentoldbytheHomeOfficethatyoucanstayintheUKasarefugee

Ifyou’renotsurewhetheryouaresubjecttoimmigrationcontrol,contactus.

Agreements with other countriesTheUKhasspecialarrangementswithsomeothercountries.Thesemayhelpyouget:• ChildBenefit,evenifyou’resubjecttoimmigrationcontrol• familybenefitsinothercountries

Formoreinformation,gotoGOV.UKandsearchforSocialSecurityabroad:NI38

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Isle of ManTheIsleofManrunsitsownChildBenefitsystem.IfyougotolivethereormovetotheUKfromtheIsleofMan,formorethan8weeks,youmusttellusorcontacttheIsleofManauthoritiesatthisaddress:

ChildBenefitTeamMarkwellHouseMarketStreetDouglasIsleofManIM12RZ

GotoGOV.IMandsearchfor‘ChildBenefit’orphone01624685107

Going abroad

Going abroad to an EEA country or Switzerland

TellusimmediatelyifyougoabroadtoanEEAcountryorSwitzerland.Youmaygettheirfamilybenefitsifyoumovedbefore1January2021andyou:• areemployedorself-employedandpayintothatcountry’ssocial

securityscheme• get,fromthatcountryeither, –unemploymentbenefit –benefitforsickness –oldagepension –benefitforanaccidentthathappenedwhenyouwereatwork –benefitbecauseyouhaveanindustrialdiseaseonthe

officiallist

YoumaygettheirfamilybenefitsevenifyourchildorchildrenstayintheUK.AnyUKNationalInsuranceyou’vepaidmayhelptheothercountrydecideiftheycanpayyoutheirfamilybenefits.

Formoreinformation,gotowww.gov.uk/claim-benefits-abroad

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Thecountrywherethechildliveswillusuallypaythefamilybenefitsif:• youworkinoneEEAcountryandpayintothatcountry’s

socialsecurityscheme• yourpartnerworksinadifferentEEAcountryandpaysinto

thatcountry’ssocialsecurityscheme

Theothercountrymaypayanyextrabenefityouwouldhavegotifthechildlivedthere.

Going abroad permanently

Youmusttellusstraightawayifyou,yourchild,children,orallofyouleavetheUKpermanentlyorforanabsencethat’slikelytolastmorethan52weeksfromwhenyouleave.

Ifyou’regoingabroadpermanentlybutyourchildisstayingintheUKandlivingwithsomeoneelse,thepersontheyarelivingwithshouldcontactustoclaimChildBenefit.

Going abroad temporarily

We’lltreatyouasbeingabroadtemporarilyifyourabsenceisnotlikelytolastmorethan52weeksfromwhenyouleave.

Ifyougoabroadtemporarily,youmaycontinuetogetChildBenefitfor:• upto8weeks,whateverthereasonforyourabsence• thefirst12weeks–ifthereasonyou’reabroadisbecauseyou,

yourpartner,yourchild,oryourpartner’schildisreceivingtreatmentforanillnessordisability,orhasdied,orifyouoryourpartner’srelativeisreceivingtreatmentforanillnessordisabilityorhasdied–arelativemeansabrother,sister,parent,grandparent,childorgrandchild

YoucanmakeanewclaimforChildBenefitwhileyou’reabroadtemporarily,aslongasyou’reordinarilyresidentintheUK.Youmusttellusimmediatelywhenyourabsencehasexceeded8weeks.

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If your child goes abroad

Ifthechild,orqualifyingyoungperson,youareinreceiptofChildBenefitforgoesabroadtemporarily,youmaycontinuetogetChildBenefitforthemforupto12weeks.YoumusttellusifyourchildisleavingtheUKformorethan12weeks.Ifyourchildistemporarilyabroadformorethan12weeks,youmaystillgetChildBenefitifthey’reonlyabroadto:• receivefull-timenon-advancededucationinanEEAcountry

orSwitzerland• makeaneducationalorforeignvisitthatisapprovedinwriting

bytheirschoolorcollege• getmedicaltreatmentforanillnessthatbeganbeforetheyleft

theUK

Usually,youcannotclaimChildBenefitforachildorchildrenwhoarenotresidingintheUK.YoumaybeabletoclaimChildBenefitifyourchildorchildrenarelivingintheEEAorSwitzerlandifEUSocialSecurityCoordinationrulesapply.

ThesearelikelytoapplyifyouareaUKnationallivingintheEUbefore1January2021oranEEAorSwissnationallivingintheUKbefore1January2021.YouwillalsobeabletoclaimChildBenefitforachildorchildrenlivinginIrelandifyouareaUKorIrishnational.

EEAandSwissnationalslivingintheUKbefore1January2021shouldapplytotheEUSettlementSchemetoprotecttheirrighttolive,workandaccessbenefitsandservices.

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Wehavearangeofservicesfordisabledpeople.TheseincludeguidanceinBraille,audioandlargeprint.Mostofourformsarealsoavailableinlargeprint.Contactourhelplineformoreinformation.

How to contact us for helpFormoreinformationorhelp,gotowww.gov.uk/child-benefit

Or,ifyou’reintheUK

Telephone 03002003100

NGTtextrelay 18001then03002003100(ifyoucannothearorspeakonthephone)

If yourpreferredlanguageisWelsh03002001900

Ifyou’reoverseas

Telephone ++441612103086

Writeto ChildBenefitOffice POBox1 NewcastleuponTyne NE881AA

Forouropeninghours,gotowww.gov.uk/contact-hmrc

Whenyoucontactus,tellusyour:• fullname• UKNationalInsurancenumber• daytimephonenumber

child benefit: coming to or leaving the uk

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