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Guidance

A5/2026: Housing Benefit eligibility and the situation in the Middle East 2026

Updated 9 April 2026

漏 Crown copyright 2026

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This publication is available at /government/publications/housing-benefit-adjudication-circulars-2026/a52026-housing-benefit-eligibility-and-the-situation-in-the-middle-east-2026

Who should read

All Housing Benefit听colleagues and wider if appropriate.

Action

For information.

Subject

Housing Benefit eligibility and the听situation in the听Middle East听2026.

Guidance Manual听

The information in this circular affects the content of the鈥疕B鈥疓uidance Manual. Please annotate this circular number against Chapter A3: paragraphs 3.450 to 3.470 and 3.590 and鈥疌hapter C4: paragraph 4.40 and paragraphs 4.64 to 4.70.听

蚕耻别谤颈别蝉听

For queries about the:

Extra copies of this circular and copies of previous circulars can be found at听.

Crown Copyright 2026.

Recipients may freely reproduce this circular.

Housing Benefit eligibility and the听situation in听the听Middle East听2026

1. Following the increased violence and airstrikes in the Middle East in March 2026,听the United听Kingdom (UK)听Government has arranged for the evacuation of British nationals and eligible persons out of the Middle East to the UK.听听

2. Therefore, the Habitual Residence Test exemption and extended temporary absence provisions in听听have been activated for the following countries:

  • Israel听听

  • Bahrain听听

  • United Arab Emirates (UAE)听听

  • Saudi Arabia听听

  • Qatar听听

  • Kuwait听听

  • Oman听听

  • Lebanon听

  • Palestine听

  • Iraq听

  • Iran听

  • Jordan听

  • Yemen

3. All British nationals and individuals with recourse to public funds arriving in the UK from these countries are exempt from the Habitual Residence Test (HRT) provided they were听residing听in these countries听immediately听before Wednesday 4 March听2026. The HRT decision should be made between 4 March听2026听and 3 September 2026 for the exemption to apply. The HRT exemption听will no longer apply听from 4 September 2026.听听

4. Existing claimants currently stranded in these countries are eligible for an extended temporary absence period up to a period of听six听months in total if they were present in the country听immediately听before Wednesday 4 March听2026听and they meet the requirements for claimants stranded abroad.听听

5. Decision makers must apply this guidance alongside circular HB听A12/2025, which sets out the full conditions for the Habitual Residence Test exemption and the extended temporary absence provisions under SI 2025/884.

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