Incapacity Benefit Abroad

Bruja_2

Hello,
I'm hoping someone from the benefits agency can answer this.
At the moment I get long term incapacity benefit and will shortly be moving abroad (Spain). I am aware that I will continue to receive my benefit but do the working rules still apply? I know in UK I can earn up to £20 per week - can I earn the equivelant abroad?
B

saintjanet

With luck you will receive a reply from seven-day-weekend,who lives in spain and whose husband is on I.B.

You could also contact the DWP direct but you may find that the person you speak to will not know!!many staff dealing with IB have been drafted in from other departments.

seven-day-weekend

Hi there! It's me! Didn't realise I was so famous!:rotfl:

I must admit I do not know the answer to this as my husband doesn't do Permitted Work.

Maybe you (or someone) could ring the DWP and ask? Please let me know the answer. (I may ring myself, but I am busy the next two days).

More importantly, where in Spain are you moving to?

And have you seen this thread?


http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=94140

krisskross

My husband also claimed IB whilst we lived in Spain. How would anyone know you were doing anything to earn money in Spain? Not of course that I would encourage fraud but I can't imagine how anyone would know.

I gather there is quite a lot of benefit fraud amongst people who have gone to live in Spain, such as continuing to claim Child Benefit. Before you go make sure you will have enough to live on. There are no welfare benefits like in the UK and work is very hard to come by and extremely poorly paid for most immigrants.

seven-day-weekend

Yes, I have to agree that you should know what you are going to live on BEFORE you come to live in Spain. We have seen people have to pack up and re-locate because they have run out of money.

TBH, we were budgeting solely with my husband's Teachers Pension. We didn't know he would still be able to claim his IB until his ex-Headmaster told us.

Therefore it is a very welcome bonus!

Morglin

This gives details of claiming IB in Spain.


http://www.dwp.gov.uk/international/sa29/benefits_05.asp

Lin

Bruja_2

Thank you for all the replies.
I will be going to live with family in Tenerife and I've lived there before so fortunately know some of the pitfalls. The police are very hot on illegal workers there so if I do any work it will be on contract for a friend who would be helping me and I wouldn't want him to be in any trouble. Thanks for the links though, both made interesting reading.
The DWP link didn't answer the question so I have sent an e mail to them (not too good on the phone) and will let you all know when I get a reply
Thanks again for the help
B

Bruja_2

I've just found out that permitted work is OK abroad. But it's a case of informing Incap Overseas at Newcastle of the hours, wages employer etc and each case goes to adjudication for a decision. Apparently lots of people do it and they send a form once a year to see if the circumstances have changed.
B

seven-day-weekend

Thanks - that is useful and informative information.