Habitual Residence Test - Which benefits does the habitual residence test apply to?

The Habitual Residence Test applies to the following benefits:

• Adult Disability Payment (in Scotland) 
• Attendance Allowance 
• Best Start Grant (in Scotland), but only if you are under 20 and not in receipt of a qualifying benefit 
• Carer's Allowance 
• Child Disability Payment (in Scotland)
• Council Tax Support 
• Disability Living Allowance 
• Housing Benefit  
• Income Support* 
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance* 
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance* 
• Pension Credit 
• Personal Independence Payment 
• Universal Credit 
• Young Carer Grant (in Scotland) 

* Note it is no longer possible to make a new claim for income support, income-related Employment and Support Allowance or income-based Jobseekers Allowance.   

For all the benefits listed above, you must satisfy the Habitual Residence Test when you claim and continue to do so as it is an on-going requirement. This means your benefit could stop if you no longer satisfy the Habitual Residence Test. 

The Habitual Residence Test applies to the claimant.  If you live with a partner and claim Universal Credit you must make a joint claim and therefore the Habitual Residence Test applies to both partners.  If you satisfy, or are exempt from, the Habitual Residence Test, but your partner fails this test, Universal Credit is paid to you as a single person, but your partner’s income and capital are still taken into account.