benefits and 6 week holiday abroad

gingerale

Probably going to regret asking this publicly for the comments that i will no doubt receive from some but here goes

Firstly i am asking advice before deciding how we go about this and before we contact the benefits agency, we are in no way looking to de-fraud any benefits agency!

the scenario is that we have 2 wedding invites, one in Australia and the other in New Zealand within 6 weeks of each other.

Now the ideal scenario would be to fly to Oz attend wedding one, spend time with family see the country then fly to NZ attend wedding two then fly home.

I work full time and have no problem taking extended periods of time off.

OH was medically retired 6 years ago and in receipt of DLA & ESA.

Now i am aware that he can only be out the country for 28 days before benefit is stopped.

So do we try our luck and go for the 6 weeks without telling them? or do they track our movements through our passports? or do we lie and tell them we are staying within the EU? i don't want to lie

Do i tell the benefits agency and be honest? not worried if they stopped the benefits for a couple of weeks but the thought of having to complete all those forms again does not appeal especially after we have already been given an indefinite award after a tribunal a few years ago

or do i just book 2 separate holidays with a week at home in between both for 21 days? not sure how many days you are supposed to be back in the uk before you can leave again

As i say i am not trying to claim anything we are not entitled to but just trying to work out the easiest and most stress free way of doing it

NYM

Love your first sentence...:rotfl:

Seriously though, the least stressful way would be to ask and get a definitive answer from the Benefits Dept.

Not trying to pry into your personal financial position, but would it not be more costly to come home and fly out again than it would be by losing a couple of weeks benefits?

gingerale

Your right it would be more costly and stressful in terms of jet lag, multiple aircraft and airport security lol. losing a few weeks benefit is not the end of the world although we have a notability car so not sure what would happen then but its the thought of having to complete all these forms for benefits that I am trying to avoid. OH is is the support group for ESA and hasn't had to be reassessed for over 5 yrs due to his physical disabilities. wheelchair bound, limited mobility, blind in one eye..... all due to brain surgery and chemo/radiotherapy 10 years ago. I just don't think i can face all these forms again. last time round the stopped his ESA because he went to an assessment on a week in between his chemo cycles and was told if he is fit enough to attend the meeting he is fit enough to work!! which company is going to employ someone in the middle of chemo? anyway following an appeal he was awarded an indefinite award as he will never get any better unfortunately.

The first sentence was aimed at those who would judge the thought of someone on disability benefits even contemplating a holiday. He was getting DLA before he was medically retired due to his condition.

gingerale

What do people who go abroad for the winter months do?

anmarj

gingerale wrote: »

What do people who go abroad for the winter months do?

Probably spend time hoping DWP don't find out! At some point they will drop themselves in it and end up abroad with no money because DWP have found out and stopped money.

Google ESA rapid reclaim process.

belinda1960

One small point. if you are away for 6 weeks, make sure that you have a firend/ relative that you can trust check your mail when away just in case an ESA 50 form for a routine, customary ESA review arrives during first week you're away. it would need to be returned within 4 weeks, and if you were not made aware of it's arrival then claim would be terminated regardless as a result of not returning a claim form on time.

5 years between reviews, even for ESA SG claimants is a long time - I predict OH will be reviewed in next 3-6 months regardless.

Diary

belinda1960 wrote: »

One small point. if you are away for 6 weeks, make sure that you have a firend/ relative that you can trust check your mail when away just in case an ESA 50 form for a routine, customary ESA review arrives during first week you're away. it would need to be returned within 4 weeks, and if you were not made aware of it's arrival then claim would be terminated regardless as a result of not returning a claim form on time.

5 years between reviews, even for ESA SG claimants is a long time - I predict OH will be reviewed in next 3-6 months regardless.

Explaining to the OP how to best 'get away' with any interference from the DWP after their extended holiday is tantamount to encouraging fraud.

Diary

gingerale wrote: »

Probably going to regret asking this publicly for the comments that i will no doubt receive from some but here goes

Firstly i am asking advice before deciding how we go about this and before we contact the benefits agency, we are in no way looking to de-fraud any benefits agency!

the scenario is that we have 2 wedding invites, one in Australia and the other in New Zealand within 6 weeks of each other.

Now the ideal scenario would be to fly to Oz attend wedding one, spend time with family see the country then fly to NZ attend wedding two then fly home.

I work full time and have no problem taking extended periods of time off.

OH was medically retired 6 years ago and in receipt of DLA & ESA.

Now i am aware that he can only be out the country for 28 days before benefit is stopped.

So do we try our luck and go for the 6 weeks without telling them? or do they track our movements through our passports? or do we lie and tell them we are staying within the EU? i don't want to lie

Do i tell the benefits agency and be honest? not worried if they stopped the benefits for a couple of weeks but the thought of having to complete all those forms again does not appeal especially after we have already been given an indefinite award after a tribunal a few years ago

or do i just book 2 separate holidays with a week at home in between both for 21 days? not sure how many days you are supposed to be back in the uk before you can leave again

As i say i am not trying to claim anything we are not entitled to but just trying to work out the easiest and most stress free way of doing it

My husband and I went through extreme stress in dealing with the DWP. My posts are full of derision and disgust at the DWP but I would never cheat anyone, including the DWP.

What happened to just being honest and playing by the rules? I'm sure you played the DWP's games by fighting hard when you went to tribunal - you should play by the rules when it doesn't suit you as well as when you're fighting hard for extra money.

Not sure what you mean by just lying and saying you're staying in the EU as a way to get out of the problem. All holidays out of the UK have to be declared.

bspm

Diary wrote: »

My husband and I went through extreme stress in dealing with the DWP. My posts are full of derision and disgust at the DWP but I would never cheat anyone, including the DWP.

What happened to just being honest and playing by the rules? I'm sure you played the DWP's games by fighting hard when you went to tribunal - you should play by the rules when it doesn't suit you as well as when you're fighting hard for extra money.

Not sure what you mean by just lying and saying you're staying in the EU as a way to get out of the problem. All holidays out of the UK have to be declared.

No they don't

bspm

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




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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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FBaby

That was 2 years ago, things have changed since!