ESA when living abroad

Brassedoff

LadyCava wrote: »

I joined this site to ask people for assistance, not for abusive, negative downright ignorant and prejudiced views by folk who clearly have nothing better to do than stalk people in need to vent their spleen. I have absolutely no wish to continue having to read posts from such people, so will seek advice elsewhere. I would once again like to thank those who have given support and advice, which I will follow up, but how depressing it is to think that there are such saddos out there who are so up themselves they are clearly speaking from their nether regions and actually must sit in their lonely little worlds with nothing to sustain them but calculating how venomous they can be to people they know nothing about....get a life comes to mind

Bye, enjoy spending our money in another countries economy not supporting the UK's businesses, shop keepers and public houses.

LadyCava

Well you must be supporting the telecoms industry spitting venomous comments. And just for your information, it is MY money just as much as yours and the last time I looked the UKwas in the EEC. So go do your worst on the other legally registered disabled people like me who are seeking help.

(Text removed by Forum Team)

I suggest you inform yourself a little better on people's conditions (PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS) before you make your posts.

rowland37

benefitsandwork.co.uk

I don't know anything about claiming ESA whilst living abroad but the above site is an excellent source of non-judgemental advice. There is a membership fee, it is well worth it - I'm a member myself.

sandy_smith_2

I'm surprised so many people are shocked about this. Ironically UK expats living in other European countries can now even claim the Winter Fuel Payment if they meet the age criteria. Child benefit can also be claimed.

It's not the claimants fault though, it's the system.

Many of these benefits fall under the Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the coordination of social security systems applicated to migrant workers. Article 67 sais : A person shall be entitled to family benefits in accordance with the legislation of the competent Member State, including for his family members residing in another Member State, as if they were residing in the former Member State.

So writing to our MPs about it is useless because barring a withdrawal from the EU, which none of the main parties support, nothing can be done about it. Although in the grand scheme of things saving £50-100m/year is hardly going to make a difference to our current economic woes.

abudabi

I think i'll move to mauritus for a few weeks then live in las vegas for some more to cheer me up , then i'll go to cannes, will they send me my benefits? lol

Brassedoff

sandy_smith wrote: »

I'm surprised so many people are shocked about this. Ironically UK expats living in other European countries can now even claim the Winter Fuel Payment if they meet the age criteria. Child benefit can also be claimed.

Not anymore they don't. The country that they live in will be annually measured and if it is warmer than the UK, winter fuel will not be paid. So that means the lovely six months of +25c goes against those living in the med countries, Gulf, India & Pakistan!

As ESA is time limited at least claims from abroad will not be paid out indefinitely. With the changes in the ability of getting an NHS number/Doctors registration those not in the UK will be disbarred from returning just to renew their claim.

Dunroamin

Brassedoff wrote: »

Let me get this right. You've moved to Spain in order to benefit from the heat? Yet you have eluded to living in the north east of that country. Having worked across Spain for over ten years at different cities. I know the winter in the north east, while dry is quite often colder than in the UK that benefited from the Gulf Stream. Barcelona from November to March can be -4 in the day quite often, so how does this help your back?

This nation has massive cuts to face. Paying money to expats is a total joke. You chose to live abroad, no matter where it is. This means you are draining money from this country. You no longer contribute to the UK. No local taxes, no VAT, no consumption in the UK. as for contributing. You and everyone need to get real. What little you pay, you use at the time of living here. Pay £3200 in tax through your job, yet go to the doctors, put kids through School, receive hospital treatment in the same year and your current account with UK PLC, would be overdrawn.

I am not kicking you. I am kicking the system that allows people living abroad to claim benefits here. Move abroad and live off savings or whatever job you move to.

This may not apply to the OP but many people living in other EU countries are still UK taxpayers - this sounds as if it's news to you.

Dunroamin

Brassedoff wrote: »

Not anymore they don't. The country that they live in will be annually measured and if it is warmer than the UK, winter fuel will not be paid. So that means the lovely six months of +25c goes against those living in the med countries, Gulf, India & Pakistan!

As ESA is time limited at least claims from abroad will not be paid out indefinitely. With the changes in the ability of getting an NHS number/Doctors registration those not in the UK will be disbarred from returning just to renew their claim.

You're right that getting WFA abroad may be changing but it's actually becoming easier to claim DLA/AA from abroad as you can now initiate a new claim as well as export existing benefits.

Brassedoff

Dunroamin wrote: »

You're right that getting WFA abroad may be changing but it's actually becoming easier to claim DLA/AA from abroad as you can now initiate a new claim as well as export existing benefits.

You might be a bit behind the times, but correct in what you are thinking. I sent an email to my MP yesterday, I was that outraged. I received a reply that to maintain your claim there are checks made with your NHS treatment provider. The government are changing the rules I have been told with respect to getting an NHS number, you will have to provide both evidence of where you live and appear on the voting roll. You can not do that from abroad as the process is being resorted over the next few years, removing duplicate NHS numbers, confirming surgery lists as part of the PCS contract.

Without the NHS number or appearing on the register and the evidence that has to be provided to get both, you will find those currently on benefits abroad will be weeded out on renewal.

Dunroamin wrote: »

This may not apply to the OP but many people living in other EU countries are still UK taxpayers - this sounds as if it's news to you.

Tell me how anyone receiving a handout while living abroad gets taxed? I was also saying local taxes. Even a person on JSA/ESA living in the UK pays some tax in the form of VAT. They also contribute to their local economy.

You are talking about pensioners, this thread is not touching on that.

Dunroamin

Brassedoff wrote: »

You might be a bit behind the times, but correct in what you are thinking. I sent an email to my MP yesterday, I was that outraged. I received a reply that to maintain your claim there are checks made with your NHS treatment provider. The government are changing the rules I have been told with respect to getting an NHS number, you will have to provide both evidence of where you live and appear on the voting roll. You can not do that from abroad as the process is being resorted over the next few years, removing duplicate NHS numbers, confirming surgery lists as part of the PCS contract.

Without the NHS number or appearing on the register and the evidence that has to be provided to get both, you will find those currently on benefits abroad will be weeded out on renewal.



Tell me how anyone receiving a handout while living abroad gets taxed? I was also saying local taxes. Even a person on JSA/ESA living in the UK pays some tax in the form of VAT. They also contribute to their local economy.

You are talking about pensioners, this thread is not touching on that.

Actually, it's quite a new rule that you can claim DLA/AA when living abroad (rather than just exporting it) it only came in last year, before that you had to have spent 26 out of the previous 52 weeks in the UK to be able to initiate a new claim. You certainly don't need an NHS number to claim, although you do need an NI number. The idea that you have to be on the electoral role in the UK to claim is laughable, as is the idea that people in this situation are being "weeded out". (Unless you mean claiming fraudulently and then a good thing too.)

People who receive a goverment/local government/teacher's pension pay tax on this in the UK, as do those who have rental income from UK property. Obviously they don't pay local taxes, but then they don't use local services. People who've taken early retirement from those careers (including on health grounds) would, therefore, be UK taxpayers (unlike many people living totally on benefits;)) and there are many people in those categories living abroad.