ESA question re' means testing

Boots888

BigAunty wrote: »

Benefits change all the time - currently there are 50 plus different types of benefits and allowances, few that remain static.

Many benefits aren't payable or are payable at a reduced rate (including state pensions in certain countries for someone who may have worked for decades)

Your issue, a potential drop in income income when going overseas, is common to many expats who then have to make changes to accommodate it. Again, your experience of a property falling in value is very common to many people across the globe.

Many expats who move overseas in search of employment or retirement and who have done this on an expected permanent basis, actually come back to the UK after a few years or so.

So I don't think you really anticipated the risks involved and had a rather optimistic view of a life in another country in receipt of UK benefits for the rest of your life. This isn't the fault of the benefit system.

I appreciate your post and always respect your advice - I'm disappointed with your response this time though, it has a tang of DM vitriol about it. But I didn't come here with my eyes shut. I came with the knowledge I could rely on an income and scrape by cheaper than I would in the UK - amongst other reasons. I knew my illness wouldn't improve but couldn't not make the change to better my life for fear of changes to my income happening, though had I known at the time, I'm sure I'd have taken it into account when "choosing" my future.

I've lived abroad and so am aware it gets cold and dark in other parts of the world too. ie, the same sun sets over Hull

seven-day-weekend

Boots888 wrote: »

I'm a bit cross about these new changes to cont. based IB-ESA, specifically as its retrospective rules mean that my decision to move abroad based on my income is now defunct. I gave a lot of thought about my future when making this massive decision and had got the OK from the DWP that as I was on Cont based IB, my moving abroad would not affect it. Now I'm trying to settle down and have invested in a property (that I knew would lose value but was cheaper than renting, certainly in the UK)as such was my best option.

Well, now that my income is in jeopardy as next WCA test will not only decide am I unfit for work, but should I need to sell up and move back to .......Hull, probably

I think there are many that made the difficult decision to move abroad and are now uncertain about their future as they rely on certain benefits. If they took away Pensions for those living abroad, there would be chaos of those needing to return to the UK in order to keep that much needed income.

It's tricky, I feel the need to see Ian Dunken Smyth in some rap video apoligising to me for backtracking and putting me out!! (again!)

I suppose the thing to do is not to move abroad if you have to rely on a Benefit that could be withdrawn at any time. If you are on any type of sickness Benefit, whether in the UK or abroad, there is always the chance that it can be withdrawn as you may be found fit for work, for example.

My husband claims Incapacity Benefit, and did when we lived abroad (and had DWP questionnaires and medical checks while we were abroad) . Had his Benefit have been withdrawn, we'd have struggled but managed. As we never relied upon it, because we knew it could be withdrawn at any time, then it did not impact our decision as to whether to stay abroad or move back. We did not return for financial reasons.

As I say, there is alway a chance that such a Benefit can be withdrawn, whereas there is not that chance with State Pension.

seven-day-weekend

princessdon wrote: »

Sorry if this offends anyone (and I am looking subjectively not objectively) but those that live overseas should not be entitled to benefits. Yes that includes pensions and winter fuel too.

If you have decided to give your money to another countries economy then I don't see why you should expect UK tax payers to pay this. Like all things it should perhaps not be implement retrospectively as people made decisions based on information available to them at that point in time, but from this point I think new claims for overseas should be disallowed.

I certainly don't see why you shouldn't get your State Pension when you have paid into it for over forty years! It can be claimed anywhere in the world (all European State Pensions can).

Most Benefits you can't get if you move abroad. There are only a few that are exportable.

Boots888

But I did rely on it, as I would still be relying on it in the UK should I have stayed.

Certain benefits should not be removed from under the feet of those that rely on it. Should it be decided not to pay sick benefits to those that chose to / need to move abroad then fair enough, people won't apply for it. But I did with the assurance I could rely on it as long as I qualified for it. Could I have got better and my health improved in line with benefit changes, of course it wouldn't be a problem. I didn't have the foresight this would mean more big changes ahead, or I might not have bothered.

Suppose you and your husband weren't so fortunate and relied in sick benefits when you were abroad, what would you think then??

seven-day-weekend

Boots888 wrote: »

But I did rely on it, as I would still be relying on it in the UK should I have stayed.

Certain benefits should not be removed from under the feet of those that rely on it. Should it be decided not to pay sick benefits to those that chose to / need to move abroad then fair enough, people won't apply for it. But I did with the assurance I could rely on it as long as I qualified for it. Could I have got better and my health improved in line with benefit changes, of course it wouldn't be a problem. I didn't have the foresight this would mean more big changes ahead, or I might not have bothered.

Suppose you and your husband weren't so fortunate and relied in sick benefits when you were abroad, what would you think then??

We would not have gone if we'd have had to rely on sickness Benefits, because they CAN'T be relied upon, as you and the OP have found out.

For most of the time we were in Spain, we lived solely on my husbands' £650 a month Teachers' Pension, plus a little bit of money that he made selling his art work. It was only the last two years beore we returned that I got my State Pension.

Boots888

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

I certainly don't see why you shouldn't get your State Pension when you have paid into it for over forty years! It can be claimed anywhere in the world (all European State Pensions can).

Most Benefits you can't get if you move abroad. There are only a few that are exportable.

& IB was exportable, I was assured by the DWP, when I moved.

Now they've changed their minds???

Well, er Hello!!!!!:(

princessdon

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

I certainly don't see why you shouldn't get your State Pension when you have paid into it for over forty years! It can be claimed anywhere in the world (all European Stae Pensions can).

Most Benefits you can't get if you move abroad. There are only a few that are exportable.

I was thinking more along the line of Pension Credits as opposed the NI paid in but didn't make that clear. I don't think there will be such as thing as state pension soon - the move to force workers into private pensions is the start of this demise.

We pay benefits to people who move TO this country and FROM this country, even if there is a reciprical agreement as our's are higher and easier etc.

I just think if you put your money into another country's economy, support their supermarkets, tradespeople then you shouldn't get benefits from UK Tax Payers.

princessdon

Boots888 wrote: »

& IB was exportable, I was assured by the DWP, when I moved.

Now they've changed their minds???

Well, er Hello!!!!!:(

I was told there was allowances for the Married Man - got married, they stopped it, I was told there was Tax Credits for families, erm no they stopped it, I was told Child Benefit was universal and would always be paid, erm no they stopped it (or are going to in April).

Things change

seven-day-weekend

princessdon wrote: »

I was thinking more along the line of Pension Credits as opposed the NI paid in but didn't make that clear. I don't think there will be such as thing as state pension soon - the move to force workers into private pensions is the start of this demise.

We pay benefits to people who move TO this country and FROM this country, even if there is a reciprical agreement as our's are higher and easier etc.

I just think if you put your money into another country's economy, support their supermarkets, tradespeople then you shouldn't get benefits from UK Tax Payers.

You can't claim Pension Credit if you move abroad.

Boots888

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

We would not have gone if we'd have had to rely on sickness Benefits, because they CAN'T be relied upon, as you and the OP have found out.

Well, I was afraid you'd answer with that old chestnut.

Why shouldn't the disabled be able to rely on benefits and make thier choices accordingly????

Ensuring those that need benefits CAN rely on getting them without being told ..."oh..but don't take my word for it" is the crux of the debate going on now with all the cuts.