Living Abroad - IB/ESA Cont based

Boots888

de1amo wrote: »

i get so stressed when i go back to the uk--the whole lifestyle drives me into a gibbering mess. İf it wasnt for my wife i would never go back.-My life back in the uk doesnt sound anywhere near as bad as your's but it makes me ill!!

Yeah, I can understand that - I dread having to go back and want to do everything to avoid it. Don't get me wrong I love England, it's a beautiful country but , well.... yeah... you know!!

If I have to move on from here I'd not go back - I'd rather move to Outer Mongolia!!!:rotfl:

de1amo

The weather and my family are the greatest fears! they would make me ill and the ESA would finish me off!!--i am ok if i dont get stressed. Many of the people i rubbed shoulders with during my time in the system in the uk must be on the edge of terror now!!

BigAunty

Is your specific question that you are looking for help with a possible benefit appeal when you are based overseas or is more than that?

You want someone to accompany you to a medical - what do you specifically require or expect them to do - don't you have friends where you are based that can provide company to you?

What if there is no support available at all - what will you do? You say there must be but maybe there is not a scrap of external help anywhere at all, other than your own endeavours and resourcefulness?

What you are experiencing, albeit through the lens of someone with a sickness/disability, are the typical issues and risks that come from moving overseas and lacking a support network, and a typical issue (not geographically specific) of potentially having a loss of income.

You don't have a benefit issue per se, though I can see why it seems that way to you as this is your primary source of income.

There are currently around 50+ benefits and allowances paid in the UK by the state, they've always been complex to administer and they've always evolved and changed. That's the risk you took when you wrongly assumed that you would be ring-fenced from future changes just because you checked the current (i.e. now 'past' status) of your benefits before you moved.

Lots of groups overseas feel less supported than other communities- legally, financially, emotionally, lacking family and state support at their new place.

For example, thousands of pensioners retired overseas on guaranteed pensions during booming economic times only to find that the euro dropped like a stone, they couldn't afford basic living costs, were not eligible for free healthcare, their properties were unsellable and got repossessed, they could not afford legal advice, got little or no assistance from the UK embassy, they could not access local charities or there were none for them, etc.

What did they do when they couldn't afford their season in the sun anymore or encountered health issues? I have no idea. I guess a lot of them came back to the UK and relied on friends and family to help them start again.

If you can't afford to live overseas, then you come back to the UK, don't you?

That's what most expats do - a large percentage households emigrating overseas, even when they intend it as a permanent move, end up returning to the UK for a myriad of reasons. They don't get hand-held by the consol who will be dealing with serious matters of deaths and victims of crime rather than changes in economic circumstances.

The following link for a UK embassy overseas gives an idea of what services they provide and it's not to do with the UK benefit system or when someone experiences a dip in income.

http://ukinvietnam.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/when-things-go-wrong/

dojoman

Have you tried the benefits and work website, I have found it very helpful.

http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/

MissMoneypenny

Or the British Ex Pats forums
http://britishexpats.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=53

Boots888

BigAunty wrote: »

Is your specific question that you are looking for help with a possible benefit appeal when you are based overseas or is more than that?

no am not appealing. I'm yet to be transfered from IB to ESA

You want someone to accompany you to a medical - what do you specifically require or expect them to do - don't you have friends where you are based that can provide company to you?

when it comes to the medical yes I would like to be accompanied and no I have nobody here nor in the Uk that can come with me.

What if there is no support available at all - what will you do? You say there must be but maybe there is not a scrap of external help anywhere at all, other than your own endeavours and resourcefulness?

well, that's the point I have No support at all, neither here nor in the UK so I'm asking what will I do. I'm asking for external help as I've no support network here nor there to help me througt the medicals and potential nightmares that might come up - other than as you say "my own endeavours and resourcefulness"

What you are experiencing, albeit through the lens of someone with a sickness/disability, are the typical issues and risks that come from moving overseas and lacking a support network, and a typical issue (not geographically specific) of potentially having a loss of income.

Correct, what I'm experiencing are typical issues and risks that come from moving overseas, but I had no support network in the UK anyway and the move would have been hard whether I moved here or elsewhere in the UK, Just add a day and half and the result is the same

You don't have a benefit issue per se, though I can see why it seems that way to you as this is your primary source of income.

i have an issue with the new changes to IB in that having been assured I could move abroad and take IB with me Cont based ends after 12 months should I not be put in a support group

There are currently around 50+ benefits and allowances paid in the UK by the state, they've always been complex to administer and they've always evolved and changed. That's the risk you took when you wrongly assumed that you would be ring-fenced from future changes just because you checked the current (i.e. now 'past' status) of your benefits before you moved.

I took a risk, a chance to change my life for the better - not based on gaining or losing any benefits but relying on IB which I'd been dependent on for a number of years and was assured by the DWP I could export.

Lots of groups overseas feel less supported than other communities- legally, financially, emotionally, lacking family and state support at their new place.

I lived abroad before when I was younger, healthy, fit and able to work, support myself and had numerous friends and family

For example, thousands of pensioners retired overseas on guaranteed pensions during booming economic times only to find that the euro dropped like a stone, they couldn't afford basic living costs, were not eligible for free healthcare, their properties were unsellable and got repossessed, they could not afford legal advice, got little or no assistance from the UK embassy, they could not access local charities or there were none for them, etc.

Though I'm entitled to help with healthcare, I'm paying for it myself

What did they do when they couldn't afford their season in the sun anymore or encountered health issues? I have no idea. I guess a lot of them came back to the UK and relied on friends and family to help them start again.

"season in the sun" - thats the problem with the attitude of those in the UK. Don't like that the weather is great down here do you, think sick people are all of a sudden sun bathing, waterskiing, getting lashed up. ???

I guess, as you say, a lot of them do go back to the UK and rely on friends and family to help them start again. But there are people that have nobody.

If you can't afford to live overseas, then you come back to the UK, don't you?

i might have to if I can no longer afford it and would hope to recieve help with housing and medical care and income etc should that need to happen

That's what most expats do - a large percentage households emigrating overseas, even when they intend it as a permanent move, end up returning to the UK for a myriad of reasons. They don't get hand-held by the consol who will be dealing with serious matters of deaths and victims of crime rather than changes in economic circumstances.

I don't expect to end up banged up abroad and needing the help of the consulate in that way, just thought there might be some other source of help from them.

The following link for a UK embassy overseas gives an idea of what services they provide and it's not to do with the UK benefit system or when someone experiences a dip in income.

Thanks for the link, I'll give it a read and see if they can assist me outside of their remit!!

http://ukinvietnam.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/when-things-go-wrong/

Wow! Thanks for your extensive response Big Auntie - I will respond to each paragraph above in "bold"

Boots888

dojoman wrote: »

Have you tried the benefits and work website, I have found it very helpful.

http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/

Thank you - yes I have and there is one thread on there dealing with expats in france, but as B & W say, they are not able to help with expats as they don't have the expertise, knowledge to be able to.

Great site though, I have them in mind should i need to return.

Boots888

MissMoneypenny wrote: »

Or the British Ex Pats forums
http://britishexpats.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=53

I thinks I've most of the expats forums in my favourites - not just for benefits though - ie, we all miss Pork Pie and Branston Pickle!!

de1amo

The only way i can live abroad is with the support of my 'foreign' wife---she is my carer and rock. i couldnt have contemplated it without her. Back in the uk i had 'for life' benefits but i walked away from them but only with support!--i now work happily but my wife takes all the burden!!

Dunroamin

If you have moved to an EU country and are claiming disability benefits, you should apply for an S1 form which will enable you to claim reciprocal healthcare.

Even as an expat you should be eligible for practical support for your disability from the country you're living in and may even be able to claim benefits there.