Key facts
•Different types of residence conditions apply to many benefits and tax credits. These are: residence, ordinary residence, right to reside and habitual residence.
•Entitlement to most benefits and tax credits also depends on your being present in Great Britain or the UK.
•Some benefits require you to have been present for a certain period of time (known as past presence) or to have been living in the UK or common travel area for three months prior to your claim.
•The rules on residence and presence vary between different benefits and tax credits. If you satisfy the conditions for one, it does not mean you satisfy the conditions for another.
Brexit
Further to the UK leaving the European Union on 31 January 2020, the rules descibed in this chapter continue until the end of the transition period, which, at the time of writing, was due to end on 31 December 2020. For more information, including the rules after this period, see
here.