Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether housing benefit claimants unable to return to the UK after an overseas visit as a result of travel restrictions imposed in response to the covid-19 pandemic will continue to be able to receive that benefit for longer than the normal permitted period of absence; and if she will make a statement.

Easements are in place for claimants who are unable to return to Great Britain as a result of travel restrictions. Guidance has been issued to Local Authority staff advising them to keep Housing Benefit claims open where the claimant has informed them that they were temporarily unable to return home due to Covid-19 travel related restrictions.