Presence and Residence Tests - What is Ordinary Residence?

You are ordinarily resident if you have been living in the UK (or Scotland for Scottish benefits) for a settled purpose for the time being (whether for a long or short period).

It is rare for benefits to be refused because you are not accepted as being ordinarily resident.  If you think this is the reason why your benefit has been refused, challenge the decision and get advice to help you explain your residence. 

The following benefits have an ordinary residence requirement: 

• Adult Disability Payment (in Scotland) 
• Bereavement Support Payment 
• Best Start Grant (in Scotland)
• Best Start Foods (in Scotland)
• Carer Support Payment (in Scotland) 
• Child Benefit 
• Child Disability Payment (in Scotland) 
• Funeral Payment / Funeral Support Payments (in Scotland)
• Healthy Start Foods
• Pension Age Disability Payment (in Scotland)
• Pension Age Winter Heating Payment (in Scotland) 
• Scottish Child Payment (in Scotland)
• Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (in Scotland)
• Winter Fuel Payment 
• Young Carer Grant (in Scotland) 

Guardian's Allowance depends on entitlement to Child Benefit, so you have to be ordinarily resident in order to get it.