Can You Use A Care-Of Address To Claim Benefits?

If you are wondering whether or not you can use a care-of address to claim benefits, you will find the answer to your question in the blog post below. In addition to answering your question, we will also explain the eligibility criteria for claiming benefits with a care-of address and list down the benefits that one can claim in such a situation.

Can You Use A Care-Of Address To Claim Benefits?

Yes, you can use a care-of address to claim benefits as long as you have taken permission from the person whose address you will be using regarding your benefits claim and are faced with any of the following situations:

• you have no fixed abode
• you live in a motorhome, caravan or boat
• you are rough sleeping or are homeless

It’s quite common for individuals without a fixed abode to submit the address of a family member or a close friend for their benefits claims as a confirmed residential address (whether it’s your own or a care-of address) is an essential requirement for claiming benefits from the DWP. This usually happens when someone is either working outside their hometown or city and they move back and forth while sharing accommodation.

If someone lives in a motorhome, caravan or boat, it is quite understandable that may not be physically present at the same place at all times and will be moving around parking sites or moors. In this case, they can also use a care-of address for their benefits payments.

People who are either rough sleeping or are homeless will also need to use a care-of address to claim benefits even though they may be in the process of being provided with temporary housing or accommodation in a shelter or hostel when they file a claim for benefits.

Benefits claimants who find it difficult to provide a care-of address can alternatively provide the address of either of the following locations so that their payments are not affected:

• hostel or shelter
• day centre
• nearest Jobcentre Plus office

Who Is Eligible For Using A Care-Of Address To Claim Benefits?

To be eligible for using a care-of-address to claim benefits, the claimant should be able to meet the following conditions:

• The claimant should be ordinarily resident in the UK. This means that they should be able to prove that they are a permanent resident of the UK and intend to stay here indefinitely.
• They should be physically present in the UK when the benefits claim is filed with the DWP.
• The claimant should be able to provide the DWP with evidence of not living at the care-of address as their main residence.
• They should either be employed or must be available for work. This means that they should be able to start work immediately if they are offered a job or a better job to increase their income.
• They should not be living in a permanent place of work. This means that a benefits claimant cannot live in their motorhome or caravan while working at a specific location.

Which Benefits Can You Claim With A Care-Of Address?

You can claim the following benefits by providing a care-of address to the Department for Work and Pensions:

• Universal Credit
• Attendance Allowance
• Personal Independence Payment
• Carer’s Allowance
• New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance
• New Style Employment and Support Allowance
• New State Pension
• Basic State Pension
• Child Benefit
• Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
• Local Welfare Provision
• Maternity Allowance
• Bereavement Benefits

Claimants who use a care-of address will not be able to claim Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit and Council Tax Reduction.

Conclusion:

The above discussion helps to conclude that benefits claimants can use a care-of address regarding their benefits payments as long as they have the permission of the person whose address they will be using and can meet the eligibility criteria that apply to such situations.

References:

Universal Credit and homeless people: guide for supporting organisations – GOV.UK

Claiming benefits when homeless on the streets – Shelter England

Homeless Benefits: A Guide to Your Financial Entitlement | Centrepoint