ESA Pathway to work interview...but G/F will be overseas at that time?! What do I do?

DEBTMONKEY1A

Hello all,

If you've read my previous posts you'll be aware that G/F has mental health issues. She's in receipt of DLA (middle rate care, low rate mobility), ESA, Housing Benefit & Council Tax benefit. I'm on SSP at the mo & receive a carers allowence for her.

She's overseas at her parents house & will not be back until about 2 weeks AFTER the interview is due. Her trip home is vital to help her recover...where she lives over there is very very relaxing & quiet whilst in the UK where we live it's town centre & very noisy. Her psychiatric nurse thinks it's vital she has some time out with her family both for her recovery & to give me a break (I'm sure if needed he could provide some sort of letter).

My question is how will the job centre react to this? Will they be ok about moving date bacxk 2 weeks? If they stop her benefits it would be a nightmare-we would not be able to pay rent, etc...Should we/I contact them now or wait a bit?

Anyone??

dmg24

How long is she away for in total?

DEBTMONKEY1A

Just under 4 weeks...she flew 2 days ago.

DEBTMONKEY1A

Posted on another thread by regular poster ESA...looks like we should be ok...

ESA(CONT) AND ESA(IR) - TEMPORARY ABSENCE ABROAD
Short absence

15 A claimant will continue to be entitled to ESA(Cont) and ESA(IR) for the first four
weeks of any absence from GB if

1.

the absence is temporary and
2. the absence is unlikely to exceed 52 weeks and
3. he continues to satisfy the other conditions of entitlement to ESA1.

Molly41

Hi,
Perhaps if you get a letter from psychiatric nurse and give to provider of WFI? I think there has to be medical grounds for not attending otherwise your benefit can be penalised.

I hope that your girlfriend is doing ok and you are benefitting from the respite. Im glad you posted that bit from another thread as that will probably set off another argument!!!!

Good luck,
Molly

DEBTMONKEY1A

Hi Molly,

Yes she's benefiting from the very quiet location & also that her mum & dad are looking after her. She's moaning it's too hot (???!!...women hey(!)) but 28 celcius, no humidity & clean mountain air sounds good to me! They're having a bbq tonight & eating outside...

I will contact her nurse just to make 100% sure that they can provide a letter/intervene but I can't see them having an issue with moving the date back 2 weeks or so given her condition. Also they've not yet received the medical questionaire...as you know I'm working on this at the mo! Perhads board member ESA could advise as well?

Thanks for posting Molly. Sounds SO selfish but I have had 2 nights of great sleep-I just needed the break as well.

mealone

DEBTMONKEY1A wrote: »

Hello all,

If you've read my previous posts you'll be aware that G/F has mental health issues. She's in receipt of DLA (middle rate care, low rate mobility), ESA, Housing Benefit & Council Tax benefit. I'm on SSP at the mo & receive a carers allowence for her.

She's overseas at her parents house & will not be back until about 2 weeks AFTER the interview is due. Her trip home is vital to help her recover...where she lives over there is very very relaxing & quiet whilst in the UK where we live it's town centre & very noisy. Her psychiatric nurse thinks it's vital she has some time out with her family both for her recovery & to give me a break (I'm sure if needed he could provide some sort of letter).

My question is how will the job centre react to this? Will they be ok about moving date bacxk 2 weeks? If they stop her benefits it would be a nightmare-we would not be able to pay rent, etc...Should we/I contact them now or wait a bit?

Anyone??

Are you entitled to carers for nearly 4 weeks when you are not careing for her 35 hours a week?

Did she inform DWP that she was going oversees and she wouldnt be available for a medical?

DEBTMONKEY1A

Hi mealone,

Flight was booked very last minute on a 'standby' basis (although I'm on SSP my job allows me certain ways to book empty seats at the last minute very cheaply) so no DWP not informed yet. As far as my carers allowence goes I may well go over for a week or 2 as her parents may not be that 'clued up' on how to deal with her condition.So...the last week is covered for the 35 hours a week requirement, but as i said I may go over for either a week or 2 or for the next 2 or 3 weekends so I will be in effect caring for her for the 35 hours a week. i will also call the carers people on Monday to clarify. Please can we not turn this into an argumentative thread-I do not want to take anything I'm not wntitled to but i also need to eat (!) & look after my g/f-it has been a tough few months.

welshmoneylover

I know you need to eat but how do you propose to care for your girlfriend while she is abroad?

Just be careful with the benefits people, CA is only payable if you are actually caring for someone IN THIS COUNTRY for 35 hrs a week.

Hope she's ok, the break might do you the world of good as well.

MamTor13

You can have a 4 week break every 26 weeks for Carer's Allowance. Most carers I know need it but don't ever get it. Enjoy your rest.

[Deleted User]

She really should have informed them that she was going abroad,then they wouldnt have sent her an appointment while she was away.As for CA i`d be surprised if there was an entitlement whilst not doing the caring.With I/B the rule used to be(may well have changed)that it couldnt be paid to cover going abroad unless you had been claiming for at least 364 days