ESA Abroad?

seven-day-weekend

I have a question which does not affect me or my family but I would still like to know the answer .

With the old Incapacity Benefit, if someone was claiming it in the UK, and then went to live in an EU country, they could still continue to claim it providing they contined to meet the criteria. This was ascertained with periodic bi-lingual questionnaires and medical checks with a DWP-approved Doctor.

Is ESA exportable in this way and if so, how do they organise the work-focussed interviews that are part of claiming ESA?

Does anyone know?

Oldernotwiser

I think you've stumbled into a very grey area and everything I've read suggests that the answer is still unclear. At the moment they seem very busy sorting out the mess they made over the exportability of DLA/AA; I expect ESA will be next.

seven-day-weekend

I have just read a link which says that contributory-based ESA (not income-based) will be exportable, providing the criteria continue to be met.

It's how they meet the criteria I am wondering about!

Tehya

Hello, I thought this was really interesting as I was chatting to someone online who lives in France but is in receipt of IB and they've recently claimed DLA not sure of the levels though. It got me thinking about what will happen to him when everyone on IB get passed over to ESA.

Another part of the question could be if they can't claim ESA because of the Work Focused part of the claim what would happen to the people who, like my hubby, are in the support group as they don't take part in any of these things.

Not that we're planning to move abroad we're quite happy where we are but it's just an intereseting question.

Tehya

healy

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

I have just read a link which says that contributory-based ESA (not income-based) will be exportable, providing the criteria continue to be met.

It's how they meet the criteria I am wondering about!

Yes it is exportable in the same way that IB is.

I have no idea how they would deal with WFIs, I wonder if they have even thought about it!

seven-day-weekend

healy wrote: »

Yes it is exportable in the same way that IB is.

I have no idea how they would deal with WFIs, I wonder if they have even thought about it!

:rotfl:Probably not!

Maybe they could do the interview by phone or e-mail?? :eek:Or another type of questionnaire?

Anyone know from first-hand experience??

Oldernotwiser

Tehya wrote: »

Hello, I thought this was really interesting as I was chatting to someone online who lives in France but is in receipt of IB and they've recently claimed DLA not sure of the levels though.

You can't claim DLA from abroad but you can now export it if you get it before you leave.

seven-day-weekend

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

You can't claim DLA from abroad but you can now export it if you get it before you leave.

Care Component only, I believe.

Oldernotwiser

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Care Component only, I believe.

Yes, that's right.

Not sure whether this is the link you read,

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/international/benefits/employment-and-support/

The site also says ,

"From 27 October 2008, Incapacity Benefit was replaced by Employment and Support Allowance and is no longer available to new claimants, but anyone who was in receipt of it at the point of change can continue to get it in the future as long as they satisfy the entitlement conditions."

seven-day-weekend

Yes, that was the link, ONW.

I understood the bit you have quoted to mean that people already on IB stay on it until they get changed over to ESA which I believe starts to happen this year. So the question of how the fulfil the conditions for claiming ESA abroad is still unanswered.

Although I suppose it could mean that people living abroad who are already on IB will not get changed over?

People on IB who are 65 before April 6th 2014 won't be changed to ESA apparently, they will stay on IB until they draw their State Pension. I'm glad to say my husband falls into this category, his 65th birthday being January 2014!

Tehya

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

You can't claim DLA from abroad but you can now export it if you get it before you leave.

That makes perfect sense to me.

I've not spoken to this person since as it was just an online chat, all I know is they said they'd claimed it.
I'm not sure if their situation would make a difference though as this person said his partner works in the UK during the week and pays tax etc here and apart from them having IB they are over-wise dependent on the working partner so could this make them eligible for DLA because if I'm remembering right they did say they'd been awarded it.

Sorry for the questions I just find claiming from abroad interesting and enjoy a little debate. I know some people really don't like the idea whilst others are all for it if you've paid into the system first. I've not really got any opinion on it one way or the other though.