ESA holiday more than 28days

Vicng

Hi
Currently on contributions esa with support group. I’ve seen threads about ESA & holidays for less than 28days. My question is what happens if you go for more than this time? It would be 6 weeks.

[Deleted User]

Vicng wrote: »

Hi
Currently on contributions esa with support group. I’ve seen threads about ESA & holidays for less than 28days. My question is what happens if you go for more than this time? It would be 6 weeks.

https://www.gov.uk/claim-benefits-abroad/illness-injury-benefits

Your benefits stop and you need to reclaim

[Deleted User]

The link is confusing. Can you go abroad for 4 weeks, 26 or indefinite if Europe!

Going abroad for more than 4 weeks but less than a year
Tell your local Jobcentre Plus if you’re going abroad for more than 4 weeks.

You can carry on getting contribution-based ESA for up to 26 weeks if you’re going abroad for medical treatment for yourself or your child.

It doesn’t matter which country you go to.

Going abroad for more than a year
You can get contribution-based ESA in the EEA or Switzerland if you’re eligible and if you’ve paid enough National Insurance contribution”

Vicng

The web sites are very confusing. At no point does it say my claim stops, I have nothing to do with the job center. I just wondered if any one had any experience before I ring and get told multiple answers.

TELLIT01

Where are you going? If outside EEA or Switzerland it's still 28 days. 26 weeks only applies for approved medical treatment, not holiday.

TELLIT01

Vicng wrote: »

The web sites are very confusing. At no point does it say my claim stops,

The claim would stop because you would no longer be fulfilling the requirements to claim. Everybody can go abroad on holiday for 28 days without ESA being affected. Over 28 days is only permitted in specific circumstances and if those circumstances don't apply the claim will cease whether it states that specifically or not.

epitome

If you go for more than 28 days just for a holiday or other reason not shown below:

ESA IR with no entitlement to conts:
You can go anywhere on Earth, you must tell the DWP ESA before you go (because it is your intention to go for more than 28days), that you are leaving on xdate and intend to return on ydate. They suspend your claim from the 29th day not including the day of departure. And close the claim after the 4 weeks have passed. If you get back and it is not closed, you should insist that you don't want a longer then 28 day decision you just want it closed from 29th day quickly so that you can get on and make a new claim.

ESA Conts entitled and payable:
If you go outside Europe, same as above up to 4 weeks & claim is closed 29th day.
If you go inside Europe and to a country where EC regulations are applied, i.e. (I believe EEA countries and Switzerland) then ESA Conts is payable for more than 4 weeks subject to normal time limiting of ESA Conts...i.e. months or years is possible. Your ESA claim will be transferred and managed with the International Pensions Agency.




Other periods allowed abroad are....

Unlimited
Family member of a serving member of HM Forces. ESA C can continue (subject to normal time constraints of conts) if the absence is because they are living with that serving member.

Unlimited
1. For those who are going abroad anywhere on Earth to have medical treatment which has been pre-arranged through the NHS before leaving the UK. Applies equally for Conts and IR claims..can be for as long as the medical treatment takes even if it is longer than 26 weeks.

Up to 26 weeks ESA IR & Conts
For those who are going abroad for medical treatment privately as long as they are unlikely to be away for 52 weeks, where the claimant or their partner

• is abroad for any medical treatment that is directly connected with their limited Capacity to work or due to a personal injury as a result of an industrial injury.
• has taken a dependent child abroad for treatment of a disease or physical or mental disability by an appropriate qualified person.

**If absence is more than 4 weeks claimant must continue to meet all the other entitlement conditions of ESA during the absence and submit documentation as appropriate
I leave you to ask what this means in detail but to me it means on assessment phase, continue to send sick notes return the ESA50. My questions would be a) what if they are asked to attend a WCA whilst abroad? b) will they be excused from having to attend a work program whilst abroad?






I advise before you go to phone Medical Services and ask them if there is a live referral for you and if any appointment letter or ESA50 has been sent. and to tell them you are going abroad. And tell the jobcentre and the work program.

epitome

I have updated the above....

If you have ESA Conts and you are going to Europe for your 6 weeks then you need to read the above