7.—(1) Where an individual is temporarily absent from the common travel area, the individual is to be treated as present in the common travel area during the first—
(a)4 weeks of any period of absence,
(b)13 weeks of any period of absence where that period of absence, or any extension to that period of absence, is for the specific purpose of caring for a cared for person who is also absent from the common travel area and where that cared for person is paid a qualifying disability benefit during that period, or
(c)26 weeks of any period of absence where—
(i)that period of absence, or any extension to that period of absence, is for the specific purpose of caring for a cared for person and is in connection with arrangements made for the medical treatment of the cared for person for a disease or bodily or mental disablement which commenced before leaving the common travel area and where that cared for person is paid a qualifying disability benefit during that period, and
(ii)the arrangements relate to medical treatment—
(aa)outside the common travel area,
(bb)during the period when the cared for person is temporarily absent from the common travel area, and
(cc)by, or under the supervision of, a person appropriately qualified to carry out that treatment.
(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1)—
(a)an individual is “temporarily absent” if, at the beginning of the period of absence, that absence is unlikely to exceed 52 weeks, and
(b)“medical treatment” means medical, surgical, psychological or rehabilitative treatment (including any course or diet regimen).
Commencement Information
I1Reg. 7 in force at 19.11.2023, see reg. 1(2)