Travelling alone claiming PIP and ESA

omni8703

Hello people.

I am looking for advice. I have Aspergers, ADHD, anxiety and I have periods of depression. I am looking to travel across Europe on my own as I love photography and I want to travel a bit. I am avoiding taking a flight as I generally have panic attacks on them. What my worry is that I am paranoid that the DWP will know my every move and will know how long and where I have been as I would love to at least travel by train to a few European countries, thus thinking I am absolutely cured from my problems. The weird thing is, as with a lot of people with problems similar to mine is that we feel more comfortable in a different country due to the fact of language barriers, different culture etc which doesn't make me feel that I stick out like sore thumb at home, plus I am currently on new medication which make my social anxiety much better. Anyway my question is, do the DWP know where I have been? Do they liaise with the Borders Agency? I know about 28 day ruling already.

Thanks in advance.

paragon909

I think you may have a little bit of schizophrenia as well, Thinking like that.

28 days you can leave the UK for whilst on ESA and DWP won't say or do anything.... But if you can travel across Europe etc, Why the hell you claiming ESA for such things as anxiety and depression. Just saying.

But good luck.

poppy12345

omni8703 wrote: »

Hello people.

I am looking for advice. I have Aspergers, ADHD, anxiety and I have periods of depression. I am looking to travel across Europe on my own as I love photography and I want to travel a bit. I am avoiding taking a flight as I generally have panic attacks on them. What my worry is that I am paranoid that the DWP will know my every move and will know how long and where I have been as I would love to at least travel by train to a few European countries, thus thinking I am absolutely cured from my problems. The weird thing is, as with a lot of people with problems similar to mine is that we feel more comfortable in a different country due to the fact of language barriers, different culture etc which doesn't make me feel that I stick out like sore thumb at home, plus I am currently on new medication which make my social anxiety much better. Anyway my question is, do the DWP know where I have been? Do they liaise with the Borders Agency? I know about 28 day ruling already.

Thanks in advance.

If you can do this, i'd question your ability to be able to do some work. If DWP found out then i'm sure they would too.

TELLIT01

Simply answering the question without judging the person, the answer is that you can travel outside the UK for a maximum of 28 days at a time without it affecting ESA payment. And No, there is no link between the UK Border Agency and the DWP benefits systems. You would simply be committing benefit fraud if you left the country for more than 28 days and continued to claim ESA.

FBaby

You would simply be committing benefit fraud if you left the country for more than 28 days and continued to claim ESA

That's not true. OP would be committing fraud if he was able to do more than what he claimed in his assessment or got significantly better but didn't report it.

It is unlikely that he would be investigated because of a random check with border control, however, if someone was to question his claims and decide to report him, and they decided to investigate, they could possibly go to the Border Agency for information to build their case.

It really all depends on the descriptors he got points for. If that includes social anxiety, not being able to engage with people he doesn't know, or being in social places, then clearly taking on such a trip may very much raise questions.

BorisThomson

Under what descriptors do you qualify for ESA and PIP? I can't see you being eligible for the mobility element if you are able to undertake such a journey unaided.

pmlindyloo

I think it is very sensible to ask your psychologist and doctor about your proposed trip(s).

I do not know what happens in all job centres but where I am you need to tell them that you are going abroad and the dates when you go and return. Our job centre also asks that you let them know when you return (obviously to check that you have!) A note is then put on the file that your claim will be closed on the 29th day after your leave date if you have not contacted them.

I am not trying to put you off going but giving you a 'heads up' if your job centre operates in the same way. If it does then multiple notifications of trips abroad may lead to an investigation.

Also, I do not know whether you are in the WRAG/Support group of ESA and whether you have to attend any interviews etc. (basically the reason you need to inform them of your trip so that you are not sanctioned for non attendance.)

If you are only attempting to go away for one holiday this year and have your psychologist/doctor's support then there really shouldn't be a problem.

midnight_express

What rate of pip are you getting ? Do you get mobility ?

GlasweJen

If you're bad with money an extended trip abroad might not be a good idea. How will you cope with exchange rates? Do you know that some things are much more expensive abroad and some things much cheaper? Also in some EU countries if you get on a train without a ticket you get an automatic fine of several hundred euro, not like here where you can bug from a conductor.

poppy12345

[QUOTE=omni8703;73895809]PIP I got my descriptors in social aspects, and money handling, both I am rather poor at.
ESA was for my repeated history of depression and anxiety, I have several panic attacks a year. My mental health problems have dated back for years, had learning support at school, used to take ritalin, and currently on sertraline.[/QUOTE]
You say this, yet you want to go traveling alone. :eek:

BorisThomson

omni8703 wrote: »

Poppy12345, you don't really understand Aspergers do you? Many of us like having our own space and doing our own thing. You've continually pick and chose bits of things I've said to attack me.

I get Aspergers, I get the wish to be alone. Travelling to busy cities is not going to help that. How are you going to manage with hotel and transport staff, busy trains, shops, restaurants?

You're receiving PIP for your social needs. That contradicts being able to manage all of the above.