holiday and ESA

pickapennyup

hi,can you take a holiday for 7 days abroad while on ESA support group?
is there anything i should know about this

thank you in advance x

poppy12345

Yes, you go on holiday for up to 28 days. You do not need to tell DWP you are going.

pickapennyup

thank you poppy

forgpt to say im on income based  esa and mymum is paying for the holiday

poppy12345

That's nice of your mum, though it doesn't matter if you paid for it. Enjoy your holiday

williewonder

I'm wanting to go for 27 days to Sri Lanka. I'm on ESA support group. I'm down as having a fluctuating MH condition which can be severe. If I'm going through a good period when holiday approaches my care team (community nurse and LD social worker) has allowed me to travel with a care plan in place so there is a contingency plan in place. Do you think I'll have any problems from the DWP with travelling for that amount of time? 

pickapennyup

williewonder said:

I'm wanting to go for 27 days to Sri Lanka. I'm on ESA support group. I'm down as having a fluctuating MH condition which can be severe. If I'm going through a good period when holiday approaches my care team (community nurse and LD social worker) has allowed me to travel with a care plan in place so there is a contingency plan in place. Do you think I'll have any problems from the DWP with travelling for that amount of time? 

do you mind me asking do you find your health insurance expensive?

williewonder

Very expensive. I was only sectioned 18 months ago and most places won't insure me. I have to go to specialist places and I'm talking £200 + for 8 days in Israel which I had to pay for as my support team won't let me go otherwise. God knows how much its going to costs for Sri Lanka for 27 days if I can even get insured?

pickapennyup

thanks,yes i can imagine

good luck with it

williewonder

Sr Lanka is £250 for 28 days for insurance.

I don't want to get into trouble with DWP. I think what is on my side is that I live in supported living staffed 24/7 and get a large support package. As well as being on a community treatment order. I have the backing from my support team. They say I won't get into trouble going as they'll write supportive letters to them and I have care plans in place if things go wrong.

calcotti

williewonder said:

I'm wanting to go for 27 days to Sri Lanka. I'm on ESA support group. I'm down as having a fluctuating MH condition which can be severe. If I'm going through a good period when holiday approaches my care team (community nurse and LD social worker) has allowed me to travel with a care plan in place so there is a contingency plan in place. Do you think I'll have any problems from the DWP with travelling for that amount of time? 

If it is 27 days you will be OK but iIf your return is delayed for some reason and, as a result, you go over 28 days then your existing benefits will be at risk. 

As far as I can recall the day you leave and the day you arrive back both count as days in the UK (except for Housing Benefit for which the day of departure counts as a day abroad).

pickapennyup

just looked into insurance and mine ranges from £170 -£1k for a week covers my son as well but he is 15yrs and healthy

on a price comparison site for people with exsisting conditions anywhere from £175-1k big differrence in companys

anyway im derailing the thread so good luck