Absences from UK under EEA PR rules

[toni999]

I am sure that this has been asked a million time, so forgive me for asking again.

The 6 month period has to be continuous or they count the days of absence in a cumulative way during the period?

for example if
Considering a period of 5 years from 1/1/2009 - 31/12/2013

leave the UK on 1/1/2010 and return 1/3/2010 (59 days of absence)
stay in the UK from 2/3/2010 until 1/4/2010 (30 of presence)
leave the UK from 2/4/2010 till 1/7/2010 (90 days of absence)
Stay stay in the UK from 2/7/2010 until 1/8/2010 (30 of presence)
leave the UK from 2/8/2010 till 2/9/2010 (31 days of absence)
Then return to the UK and stay for the rest of the year.

the total is 180 days is this considered a 6 months period absence or not because it is not continuous?

[noajthan]

Continuity of residence is not affected by
(a)periods of absence from the United Kingdom which do not exceed six months in total in any year

See http://www.eearegulations.co.uk/Latest/ByPage/part1_3

The year runs from anniversary of your entry to UK.

[salmintin]

As far as I understand it doesn't matter if it is continuous or not. Can you not consider the period between 3/3/2009 - 3/3/2014 instead? This way you manage to split the absences into separate years.