Claiming ESA abroad

mmibody

I tried this call line and they transferred me back to ESA centre. They told me "you have to ask ESA centre because they pay benefit to you father". So i got stuck in circle

Ames

Don't forget that with Brexit there's no guarantee that the rules will stay the same. The last thing you need is to move him then find he has no money and no right to return.

Are there any Czech social groups local to you, through a church maybe? They might have people who can visit him and talk to him. Or perhaps there are Czech radio stations that you can tune into from here, or DVDs he could watch that are in Czech?

How old is he? Will he be getting a UK state pension? I think they're easier to claim while living abroad so it might be an option then (again, depending on Brexit).

mmibody

I tried almost everything ( movies, radio stations, magazines, newspapers,...) but he refuses everything. I came to UK 7 months ago ( week after my father had stroke ). I found work and I tried to help my father as much as I could.

Brexit is another problem which I am scared of but what can I do ? I hope it will not be too bad for me and my father.

FBaby

3 months to settle in a nursing home after a stroke is not that long of a period. It can take much longer but if you think him being back home is better for him, have you checked what he would be entitled to claim by becoming resident of the Czech republic?

Does have any assets in the UK? How old is he? Has he contributed enough towards his pension in the UK (probably not if he's only contributed for 15 years).

mmibody

Yes, I've checked what my father can get in Czech Republic but true is that almost nothing. System in Czech Republic is based on contributions, my father is 54 years old, so he need at least 10 years contributed in Czech Republic to get something.

I think it is some new state pension ( after 2016 ) when : You’ll usually need at least 10 qualifying years on your National Insurance record to get any State Pension. They don’t have to be 10 qualifying years in a row."

TELLIT01

Might any contributions your father made in Czech Republic before coming to the UK count toward benefit there? Or is it similar to the UK where only recent years count?

mmibody

It is almost same like in UK, they count just recent years.

elsien

mmibody wrote: »

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.

No, I was asking if he would have to move onto income based in the future. It was just a thought because I know JSA contribution based is only payable for 6 months, so I was asking if you'd checked whether contribution based ESA would stop after any particular time period. But if he's in the support group that's not relevant, so ignore me.

mmibody

I know that is crazy but they changed law few years ago. My father (because he is 54) can get some minimum payment for living ( I do not know, how to translate it to English), because he was born in Czechoslovakia ( Now Czech Republic is separated country as well as Slovakia is ) but this payment is only 150£ per month. He can not get anything else because he has lived and worked in United Kingdom for 15 years.

pmlindyloo

Here's another number to try:

Going abroad for more than a year
You can get contribution-based ESA in the EEA or Switzerland if you are eligible and if you've paid enough National Insurance contributions.
Help and advice on ESA
International Pension Centre
Telephone: +44 (0)191 218 7117
Find out about call charges

I do agree that it is early days as regards being in a nursing home so you may find things improve soon.

Have you spoken to his consultant/doctor to see if things are likely to improve?

The practicalities of getting him to his home country may be difficult. Do his doctors think he is fit to travel? Have you spoken to his family? Can anyone come and visit for a while to give him some company?

You are being a good son and doing everything you can to help your dad. I hope everything will work out for you and him.