Holiday and ESA

dave030445

Maybe its just me but i didn't know that if you are on ESA you must tell the DWP that you are going abroad on a say 1/2 week holiday. I went last year and never told them. I wonder how many people are going away this year and whether they tell the DWP.

clemmatis

Here are the regulations, I read them as saying the DWP should be notified:

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

robpw2

its always best to notify them you wouldn't want to get into trouble lol

nannytone_2

I would think that being in so much pain that you cant get out of bed, accounts for very few ESA claimants!

MrsManda

dometric wrote: »

It does seem that you can have a month touring the USA whilst claiming to be so ill that you can't get out of bed because of the high level of pain and still collect your ESA giros!!!

There can be a HUGE difference between being unable to work and being able to go on holiday. For example someone with cystic fibrosis may be unable to work due to the severity of their condition and thus can receive ESA. Are you really suggesting they should not be allowed to go on holiday?

Or what about someone unable to work due to disordered thoughts, memory problems and concentration issues. Should they never be allowed to go on holiday?

erdd2

dometric wrote: »

It does seem that you can have a month touring the USA whilst claiming to be so ill that you can't get out of bed because of the high level of pain and still collect your ESA giros!!!

Really? And your evidence to back your statement is?

seven-day-weekend

When my husband was claiming Incapacity benefit after his first major breakdown, and was unable to work for a year, he asked the Dr after about nine months if it would be OK for him to go abroad to visit friends in Spain for a week. The Dr said if he could have put it on prescription, he would have done. He said a week in the sun would be therapeutic and helpful in his recovery.

So therefore not everyone thinks that people unable to work through sickness or disability should not go abroad.