British expats living overseas are generally subject to strict residence rules when it comes to UK welfare benefits. The key question is not simply whether a person is British, but whether the particular benefit can be paid abroad under its governing rules. In practice, State Pension is the benefit most commonly payable overseas, while means-tested benefits are usually unavailable because they depend on residence and, in many cases, the habitual residence test.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)              Yes usually up to 13 weeks, or up to 26 weeks if the absence is for medical treatment.

Returning to the United Kingdom after living overseas is often an exciting prospect. Whether you are returning to be closer to family, due to ill health, retirement, or changes in your personal circumstances, many British expats assume that access to housing and welfare benefits will resume automatically upon their return.

One of the first obstacles many returning British citizens encounter is the Habitual Residence Test (HRT).

A point that is often misunderstood is that you do not necessarily have to have been receiving PIP before leaving the UK. In some circumstances, a person who already lives in an EEA country or Switzerland can make a claim from abroad if they:

Yes, but not necessarily immediately, and the answer depends on which benefit you are claiming.