Benefits and going abroad

specialboy

Ames wrote: »

I don't think the OP is asking whether or not to report it, they're asking whether if they go for longer will the claim be stopped leading to reapplying and another assessment, or will they just 'pause' the claim for a week.

Quote from the op

According to DWP information he is supposed to inform them if he is absent from his home for any period. Now this could translate to anything, even just days out. We think that if we inform them that we will be away for 5 weeks that his ESA will elapse & he would have to reapply. Have we interpreted this correctly? And would DWP know if we didn't inform them? Do they have ways of tracking claimants journeys or do they rely on informants? We really are not sure what to do.

It reads to me that the op is very much hoping to get away without informing the relevant authorities. Why else would they be asking the above questions?

andyfromotley

With bulk data matching and sharing of data between govt depts its fairly easy to discover people who travel abroad for extended periods. (dependant upon means of travel) Its would also be fairly easy to cross match this list with those on benefits. I would be surprised if this automated check isn't run as a matter of course on a daily basis.

TELLIT01

When you get back your partner would need to do a Rapid Reclaim to get back onto ESA. This would link to the previous claim so there would be no reassessment etc. He would go back into the group he was in previously.

Katykat

Going aborad

t0rt0ise

Do a google search.. rapid reclaim for ESA. You will find that you can have up to a 12 week break and do a reclaim and it just continues where you left off.

Mersey_2

That really amused me and has been suggested on here before.


If only HM Government was that competent, never mind the DWP!


I think the Home Office are a bit busy with the migrants running through the Eurotunnel, before they start asking the Passport Agency or Customs to give them daily lists of passports scanned at airports, ports etc for a £55 - £73 fraud.


I agree in an ideal world, it would be done, but its laughable to suggest on a daily basis they check whether the 1.6m JSA Claimants go to Spain for a week. Equally the same applies to ESA etc.

bspm

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5177203=




How did he get on when he visited your son for four weeks?

bspm

and if you really need to be told again here is the reply the last time you asked


bspm
19-01-2015, 12:11 PM MoneySaving Convert

Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 116
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Update

Telephone call to DWP this morning at 8.10am


Me.......Hello I am in receipt of ESA SG and PIP and i'm going on holiday soon and not sure if I have to notify you?

DWP.....How long are you going for?

Me........22 days

DWP......Well it wont affect your benefit but when are you going?

Me.........26th February

DWP.......Well it is a little early to notify us, if you want to call back a few days before you are going and we can update your records unless you want me to update now?

Me........So I don't have to fill in a 15 page brochure because I am going away?

DWP......No, would you like me to update your case now?

Me.........Yes Please

National Insurance and security questions answered.

DWP.......So you are going on the 26th February for 22 days, where are you going?

Me..........Florida

DWP.......Thank you for letting us know, I have updated your records.

Me..........Do I HAVE to let you know if I go away in the future?

DWP.......Well there is nothing that says you HAVE to let us know and in your case it does not affect your benefit, the only thing it would affect is if we wrote to you while you were away but I cannot see how that would affect your time away, nothing would appear that urgent that it would need dealing with within a normal two week holiday, as you are going for three weeks it is probably best you do notify us.

Me........Thank you very much.

So that, in a nutshell, was my experience of notifying the DWP that I would be away from home, they weren't bothered, when I go away in June and October I wont tell them as I will only be going for two week holidays.

Last edited by bspm; 19-01-2015 at 12:14 PM.

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Katykat

Going abroad