2. Presence
Most benefits and tax credits have rules about presence and absence. You must usually be present in Great Britain at the time you make your claim and then continue to be present. There are specific rules that allow you to be treated as present during some temporary absences (see
here) and the European Union co-ordination rules can also mean that the requirement to be present in Great Britain does not apply if you are staying or living in another European Economic Area state. These exceptions vary between the different benefits and tax credits, and are covered in Chapters 14 and 15.
To satisfy the presence requirement, you must show that you are physically present in Great Britain. For a benefit authority to disqualify you from benefit on the basis that you were absent from Great Britain, it must show you were absent throughout that day.
1R(S) 1/66 For further details on the meaning of presence and absence, see
here.