Family holiday / ESA & ADP

britoonz

Hi all,

Looking for some advice. We are going on holiday for 10 days in November to Florida. 

My wife gets both (contributions based and in a support group)ESA & ADP. My question is,  does she need to contact any of these departments to confirm that she will be OK to go on holiday? She said that you need to contact them, but I am sure you need to do so if its more than 4 weeks + 

Can someone please help? 

Cheers

elsien

ESA is four weeks. I don’t know what ADP stands for. 

britoonz

Adult Disability Payment. It replaced PIP in Scotland. 

Thank you. 

poppy12345

You do not need to information either of them. I believe ADP is 13 weeks, up to 26 weeks if it's for medical treatment. (same for PIP/DLA)

britoonz

poppy12345 said:

You do not need to information either of them. I believe ADP is 13 weeks, up to 26 weeks if it's for medical treatment. (same for PIP/DLA)

Thsnk you so much for confirming. We really appreciate it. 

B

Charles_Foxtrot

The guidance / rules from the government for this are very clear:

Regarding ADP in Scotland (from mygov.scot): 

You may be prosecuted for benefit fraud if you do not tell the office that pays your benefit you’re going abroad, even if it’s just for a visit

Regarding ESA from Gov.uk: 

You can get ESA for up to 4 weeks if you go abroad. Talk to your local Jobcentre Plus before you go.

Some on this forum will say that you don't need to report anything. This is counter to what the official government website says. There is nothing wrong with going abroad, but best to be safe and inform them you are going in order to avoid any potential problems later on. 

For example, when your benefits review comes up in a year or two, they may ask "have you been anywhere nice lately?" (I've been asked that exact phrase). And if you have been abroad, and did not report it, it can be a problem. 

I always inform the agencies before I go abroad. 

poppy12345

I've been abroad quite a few times over the past 10 years or so and have never told them. I never go for any longer than 2 weeks, which is allowed so there's nothing to report.

Charles_Foxtrot

Whatever works for you. I'm paranoid by nature and it eases my mind to do what it says on the government websites. Never had a problem by informing them. 

Spoonie_Turtle

What matters is what the law says, and the law says you must inform them of anything that you would reasonably be expected to know would affect the amount of benefit or the administration of your benefit - e.g. an improvement of health, moving in with a partner, having a child, moving house, changing bank account, long hospital stay, that kind of thing.  Absences of up to 4 weeks are specifically allowed so would not materially affect your benefit.

I'll leave it to readers to do with that information as they will.

Muttleythefrog

Worth saying not sure regarding ESA.... but my wife had to inform Universal Credit of holiday dates and they demanded she inform when she returned or if any plans changed... that was in the last couple months for vacation less than 4 weeks. (She has a no work commitment as receiving carer element.)

"Yes you allowed up to 28 days without this effecting your claim, if you can please update us before you leave"
"you must notify Universal Credit of your return or any changes to your planned return date as soon as possible"
"Please confirm via the journal when xxxxx has returned to the UK"

poppy12345

Muttleythefrog said:

"Yes you allowed up to 28 days without this effecting your claim,

For UC it's 1 month, not 28 days. https://www.gov.uk/claim-benefits-abroad/universal-credit