You may still be able to claim some benefits if you travel or move abroad, or are already living abroad. What you’re entitled to depends on where you’re going and how long for.

Who to contact if you’re going abroad

Tell your local Jobcentre Plus or the office that pays your benefit if you’re going abroad. If it’s a temporary move, tell them when you’re coming back.

You should also tell HMRC if you're moving or retiring abroad.

Claiming when abroad

If you’re going to (or are already living in) a European Economic Area (EEA) country or one with a special agreement with the UK, you may be able to claim:

• UK-based benefits
• benefits provided by the country you’re going to

You’ll need a statement to prove you’ve paid National Insurance in the UK to get these benefits - unless you’re claiming Winter Fuel Payments.

Get a statement of National Insurance contributions

Fill out ‘statement of National Insurance contributions’ and send it to the address on the form.

Download 'Statement of National Insurance contributions application' (PDF, 69KB)

State Pension

You can also claim your State Pension abroad.

Returning to the UK

Contact DWP about your benefits with date of your return move and contact details abroad and in the UK.

European Economic Area (EEA) countries

The following countries have benefits arrangements with the UK:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden

Switzerland isn’t a member of the EEA but is treated as an EEA country for certain benefits.

Other countries with UK benefits arrangements

The following countries have social security agreements with the UK:

• Barbados
• Bermuda
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Canada
• Jersey and Guernsey
• Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
• Israel
• Jamaica
• Kosovo
• Mauritius
• Montenegro
• New Zealand
• the Philippines
• Serbia
• Turkey
• USA

You may be able to claim certain benefits in these countries but it will depend on the particular country.

You can get a list of contacts for benefits enquiries on the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) website.

There are 2 types of Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) - contribution-based and income-based.

You can't get income-based JSA abroad.

You can get contribution-based JSA in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland for up to 3 months if you:

• are entitled to it on the day you go abroad
• register as a jobseeker at least 4 weeks before you leave
• are looking for work in the UK up to the day you leave
• are going abroad to look for work
• register at the equivalent of a Jobcentre in the country you’re going to
• follow the other country’s rules on registering and looking for work

Ask your local Jobcentre Plus if there are any forms to fill out.

Moving to a country not in the EEA

Some countries outside the EEA have social security agreements with the UK. This means that if you’ve paid enough National Insurance contributions in the UK, you may be able to get unemployment benefits in:

• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Jersey and Guernsey
• Kosovo
• former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
• Montenegro
• New Zealand
• Serbia

Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP)

If you work for a UK employer in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you can get SMP as long as you’re eligible.

If you work in a different country, you can still get SMP as long as your employer pays UK National Insurance contributions for you.

Talk to your employer about claiming SMP.

Maternity Allowance

If you can't get SMP, you might be eligible for Maternity Allowance.

If you’re eligible, you can get Maternity Allowance in an EEA country or Switzerland.

You may also be able to claim it in:

• Barbados
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Israel
• Jersey and Guernsey
• Kosovo
• Montenegro
• Serbia
• Turkey
• the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Ask your local Jobcentre Plus for more information.

Child-related benefits

You can also get the following in an EEA country or Switzerland if you’re eligible:

• Child Benefit
• Tax credits
• Guardian’s Allowance (you can claim this if you’re getting Child Benefit for a child whose parents have both died)

Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)

You can get SSP if you’re eligible and either of the following apply:

• you work for a UK employer in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland
• you work outside the EEA and your employer pays National Insurance contributions for you

Contact your employer to claim SSP.

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

There are 2 types of ESA - income-related or contribution-based.

You can get both of these for 4 weeks if you go abroad.

Talk to your local Jobcentre Plus before you go.

Going abroad for more than 4 weeks but less than a year

Tell your local Jobcentre Plus if you’re going abroad for more than 4 weeks.

You can carry on getting contribution-based ESA for up to 26 weeks if you’re going abroad for medical treatment for yourself or your child.

It doesn’t matter which country you go to.

Going abroad for more than a year

You can get contribution-based ESA in the EEA or Switzerland if you’re eligible and if you’ve paid enough National Insurance contributions.

Industrial Injuries Benefit

If you’re getting Industrial Injuries Benefit for work-related accidents and illnesses, you can still get this in an EEA country.

Contact the office dealing with your benefit if you’re still in the UK, or the International Pension Centre if you’re living abroad.

International Pension Centre

Email the International Pension Centre
Telephone: +44 (0)191 218 7777
Textphone: +44 (0)191 218 7280
Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm
Find out about call charges

Benefits for carers and people with disabilities

Going abroad temporarily

You can claim the following benefits if you’re going abroad for up to 13 weeks (or 26 weeks if it’s for medical treatment):

• Attendance Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance - care component
• Personal Independence Payment - daily living component

You can carry on claiming Carer’s Allowance if you take up to 4 weeks holiday out of a 26-week period.

Tell the office that deals with your benefit that you’ll be away.

Going abroad permanently to another EEA country or Switzerland

You may get Disability Living Allowance (care component), Personal Independence Payment (daily living component), Attendance Allowance or Carer’s Allowance as appropriate if you or a family member are eligible and:

• work in the UK or pay National Insurance in the UK because of work
• have paid enough National Insurance to qualify for contribution-based benefits
• are getting State Pension, Industrial Injuries Benefit, contribution-based ESA or bereavement benefits

If you’re already living in another EEA country or Switzerland you don't need to have claimed in the UK before you go. But you must:

• be habitually resident in the EEA country or Switzerland
• have a genuine link with the UK social security system, eg you’ve lived and/or worked in the UK

Contact the exportability team before you move abroad or claim from abroad.

Exportability Team
exportability.team@dwp.gsi.gov.uk

Exportability Team Room C216
Pension, Disability and Carers Service
Warbreck House
Warbreck Hill Road
Blackpool
FY2 0YE

You can claim Winter Fuel Payments if you:

• meet the eligiblity conditions for them
• live in another European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland

The EEA includes:

• all countries in the EU
• Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein

You don’t need to have claimed in the UK before you go. But you must have a ‘genuine link with the UK social security system’ to claim, eg you’ve lived and/or worked in the UK.

European Economic Area (EEA) countries

If you move to an EEA country, Switzerland or Gibraltar, and you’re eligible, you can claim the following:

• Bereavement Allowance
• Bereavement Payment
• Widowed Parent's Allowance

Countries outside the EEA

You may also be able to claim bereavement benefits if you move to one of the following:

• Barbados
• Bermuda
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Canada
• Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
• Israel
• Jamaica
• Kosovo
• Jersey or Guernsey
• Mauritius
• Montenegro
• New Zealand
• the Philippines
• Serbia
• Turkey
• USA

The rate and eligibility criteria may vary between countries - find out what arrangements are in place.