ESA and PIP whilst temporarily abroad

antrobus

A_Step-Mum wrote: »

...I believe that I can go abroad for up to 13 weeks without affecting my PIP but only 4 weeks for ESA, though if we moved to France permanently I could get it indefinitely (at least until Brexit!), which seems somewhat contradictory....

That's basically what it says here;
https://help.rnib.org.uk/help/money-benefits/benefits/pip-abroad

But perhaps more usefully it says;

You should contact DWP Exportability Team before claiming these benefits abroad:

01253 331 044
exportability.team@dwp.gsi.gov.uk

[Deleted User]

The situation is far from clear re-brexit, more should be known by the end of the year.

Tabbytabitha

venison wrote: »

The situation is far from clear re-brexit, more should be known by the end of the year.

That's optimistic!

A_Step-Mum

I'm reluctant to contact DWP other than anonymously because I don't want to poke a sleeping lion - my ESA support group was due for reassessment 3 years ago but I must still be in the backlog somewhere.

Given that I'm very fortunately not going to starve if I'm not paid ESA for any length of time, at the moment I'm inclined to try the 3 weeks and 6 days in France, come back to the UK for a few days and then do another 3 weeks and 6 days and see what happens - I'll tell them just before I go the first time (and no doubt get that enormous form which asks where I'm storing my furniture etc whilst I'm away!) and then tell them whilst I'm back in the UK that I'm going again.

I'm going to guess that my ESA will be stopped for the second visit pending a decision on entitlement, which is reasonable and I'd rather they did that than potentially end up with an over payment. If it's eventually decided in my favour all to the good but if necessary I might have to take it to appeal to get a definite decision for the future. I'll report back eventually in case it helps someone else, but it might be a while!

Hounded_out

If I were you I'd contact the DWP whether it be on a hypothetical basis, or otherwise.

As for a ESA re-assessment, well yes you can be re-assessed at any time (some even get re-assessed within months), but in my area and from what I know in many regions, some, if not many, folk on ESA SG have not been re-assessed for some 5 years, or longer. So you may be re-assessed soon, but on the other hand you may not be. Due to backlogs etc the old 3 yr guideline limit before re-assessment may no longer apply, or be enforced..