Claiming ESA abroad

mmibody

Hello, My father had stroke 7 months ago. My father can not walk and speak after stroke because of that my father is in nursing home. Problem is that my father is not happy there. My father is originally from Slovakia but he grew up in Czech Republic ( when my father was born, it was one country ) so his native language is Czech language. He does not understand to English language any more after stroke. Only language what he understand is Czech so he can not speak with other residents or carers in nursing home. When I am at work and I can not visit him he sit in wheelchair and look through the window all day. I thought that it is because of new environment but my father has been there for almost 3 months and nothing is better, it is even worse. Because of these problems I would like to move my father to Czech Republic, where my family can take care of him.
My father gets contribution-based ESA and he was placed to support group. I tried to get some information about claiming ESA abroad in EEA countries from ESA centre but without any success. They told me that ESA can be paid only to people who live in United Kingdom and that ESA benefit can not be transferred. But I read on government websites that ESA can be paid in EEA countries. So, Where is the true ?Can ESA be paid abroad ? (My apologies for my English)

elsien

According to this link it will stop after 4 weeks unless you are going abroad for medical treatment when it carries on for 26 weeks. He's going back to live, so on that basis it appears as if it would stop. Either way he's not going to be able to claim on a long term basis. Can he not claim anything from his own country's system?

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

mmibody

No he can not because he has been living here for almost 15 years. Maybe I am wrong but also there is written : "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 contributions."
Does not it mean that my father can get ESA abroad ?

NYM

I thought to claim Contribution ESA you had to be resident in the UK?

mmibody

Yes, my father is resident in UK now. He is in nursing home but I would like to move him to Czech Republic.

elsien

Sorry, misread the link and missed the EAA bit.
Found another one on RNIB which seems to say you are right for contribution based esa. But I suggest you go to CAB or a specialist benefits advisor to check the system and make sure you do it properly.

https://help.rnib.org.uk/help/money-benefits/benefits/pip-abroad

mmibody

Thank you for your replies. Can you explain me please what is RNIB and CAB ?

elsien

I'm also wondering though at what point he'd move from contributory to income based esa because he wouldn't get income based esa if living abroad. Have you considered that?

CAB is citizens advice bureau.

[Deleted User]

Royal national institute for the blind and Citizens Advice Bureaux, and the Czech republic is in the EU not EEA now

mmibody

Sorry maybe I don't understand to your question. Are you asking why my father's is moving from contribution-based ESA to income-based ESA ?

Answer: My father is not moving to income-based ESA because I know he can not get income-based ESA abroad.

Czech republic is in EEA because "The EEA includes EU countries and also Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. It allows them to be part of the EU's single market." but I might be wrong

Alice_Holt

Try the DWP ESA exportability call line


Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
If you were given ESA under UK regulations.
Telephone +44 (0) 191 218 2050
Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm