Attendance Allowance and holidays abroad

bspm

FBaby wrote: »

Which is irrelevant to the issue.

Of course she can knowingly ignore the rules, then when she is reported and investigated, and then come back here asking advice on how to pretend they didn't know and hope that she doesn't face going to jail.

Posts like this shows is an interesting one when it comes to posters debating about the true reality of fraud rather than recorded fraud.

From my OWN experience I have been in receipt of PIP for over 18 months, we own a property in Florida, we go to Florida at least four times a year, never for more than 12 weeks, I have told them that I go, I also tell them that we leave the country for 3 weeks at a time, we also go to Majorca, Portugal and crete in between.

The original post asked about a 'rolling 12 month period' from my many calls to the DWP to notify them of holdiays no one has ever told me that I can only leave the country for 12 weeks in a 'rolling 12 month period' which I believe was the posters original question??

How is that fraud??

FBaby

I have told them that I go

You said in your previous post that you told them ONCE.

no one has ever told me that I can only leave the country for 12 weeks in a 'rolling 12 month period'

But have you asked them? Why should they tell you when you contact them to report ONE holiday instance? It is your responsibility to check the rules.

Anyway, you do what you want, who knows, you might get a letter tomorrow telling you you are being investigated for fraud. It's not because you've been lucky so far, nor because you haven't been told that you might be breakng the rules that you are ok to continue as you've done so far.

Alter_ego

Considering that British citizens are not clocked in or out of UK how would DWP know or prove the length of her holidays?

bspm

FBaby wrote: »

You said in your previous post that you told them ONCE.



But have you asked them? Why should they tell you when you contact them to report ONE holiday instance? It is your responsibility to check the rules.

Anyway, you do what you want, who knows, you might get a letter tomorrow telling you you are being investigated for fraud. It's not because you've been lucky so far, nor because you haven't been told that you might be breakng the rules that you are ok to continue as you've done so far.

I told them ONCE last year, as previously stated I have been in receipt of PIP for 18 months, so, in the latter half of 2014 I called them several times as from September to December we went away four times, I must admit as I posted it I thought that someone may read my ONCE and MANY times and leave a retort,I wasn't disappointed was I?

As a former HEO (Higher Executive Officer) of the DWP, I know from personal experience that you can read a statement stating black is black then read another the next week that tells you Black is White. I do not think that as a former employee of the DWP allows me any special privileges, my post was stating that I have seen it nowhere that you can only take holidays up to a maximum of 12/13 weeks in a rolling period.

As for asking the 'call handler' for the rules is a minefield and you well know that. As a former Executive Officer of training for DWP 'rules' you can get one call handler who will tell you one thing and the next day get another one who will tell you different.

The 'rules' state that you cannot leave the country for more than a 13 week period, nowhere does it say that there is a 12 month rolling period which is what I stated in answer to the original poster.

Please do not insinuate that I may be investigated for fraud, you have no right to say that and in fact I find it rather offensive.

Anyway this post is getting away from the original track, I am not going to get in to a debate with someone who has a little knowledge of Benefits and chooses to accuse people of possibly committing fraud, I have a flight to book.

Have a good day!

bspm

# 19 bspm Old 16-08-2015, 10:52 PM
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and if you really need to be told again here is the reply the last time you asked


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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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C.C.L.

Alter_ego wrote: »

Considering that British citizens are not clocked in or out of UK how would DWP know or prove the length of her holidays?

Yes you are 'clocked in and out' before travel, API (advance passenger information) has to be given to the airline, if checked in at the airport the passport is 'swiped' and details taken. Same for the return journey.

missbiggles1

C.C.L. wrote: »

Yes you are 'clocked in and out' before travel, API (advance passenger information) has to be given to the airline, if checked in at the airport the passport is 'swiped' and details taken. Same for the return journey.

When travelling within the EU, you may well not be going by air.

FBaby

The poster has stated that she isn't leaving for more than 13 weeks at a time, I can't find anything anywhere that states anything about a 12 month rolling period.

http://www.focusondisability.org.uk/leave-uk.html

bspm

FBaby wrote: »

http://www.focusondisability.org.uk/leave-uk.html

Attendance allowance (AA) and disability living allowance (DLA)
General Rules
Temporary absence abroad
AA and DLA can be paid for the first 13 weeks of a temporary absence abroad.

but where does it mention the 12 month rolling period which is what the poster asked in the first place and what I have said I cant find anything on???

margaretclare

missbiggles1 wrote: »

When travelling within the EU, you may well not be going by air.

We drive quite a lot on the European continent, recently went by Eurotunnel to France. Every time we cross the UK border our passports are scanned, in and out.