Pension while recuperating abroad.

Eldi_Dos

A relative who is visisting family in France unfortunately has had a fall and broken their hip, they have been told it could be between 3 and 10 months before they are able to return home.

How will this effect their state pension and do they need to inform any government departments?

Keep_pedalling

It does not effect their pension and they don’t need to inform the DWP of their temporary stay in France.

badmemory

I am sure someone will be along to confirm but if only in receipt of the state pension & no other benefits like pension credit there should be no issues with payment. Have you tried google.

gwynlas

If they are not of dual nationality they need to find out what hapens about their extended stay means in terms of the 90 day rule. I'm not aware of excemptions for medical reasons but if they are advised not to travel then they need to remain there.

soolin

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81923787#Comment_81923787

That’s a very good point and well worth looking into.

elsien

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81923787#Comment_81923787

Have they been told not to travel? The OP says between three and 10 months before they can return home which is not quite the same thing and could be to do with a bit of extra help needed in the meantime rather than being physically unable to travel. People are encouraged to mobilise as soon as possible after a hip operation but have to be more careful about bending and what they can do, et cetera.

Brie

Travel but how? Don't drive, of course. Especially on a motorcycle or even in a tiddly car. But if they have travel insurance is it possible that a large car might be able to transport them back to the UK fairly quickly and in relative comfort.

Flying may be possible - one hears of those who have skiing accidents who are flown home and then a ambulance or simply a large car gets them from the airport to their home or local hospital.

And what's the concern about their state pension? If they are already collecting it I don't know why this would change. I may be wrong but can't see anything to say otherwise. This link talks about changes of address but this is only a temporary change.

Contact the Pension Service: Report changes of address, bank details or other circumstances - GOV.UK

If they haven't already started to collect it they may wish to delay starting until they return and consider if they want it back dated (take care if there are income benefits).

TELLIT01

@Brie The concern may be because they are aware that certain benefits do stop if you are out of the country for an extended period. That isn't the case with the State Pension.

@Eldi_Dos 3 to 10 months before being able to return to the UK is a long time. Were there other injuries or was this a particularly bad break which is taking a long time to heal? As others have said, travelling by road in a large car shouldn't be a problem after initial healing. Regular stops would be required and split the journey over a number of day.

soolin

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81923910#Comment_81923910

Up to 10 months seems an awfully long time, there must be other injuries, although of course that isn't part of the question being asked.

My own late mother had issues with her hips, managed to break them both, one of them twice. After a few days in holiday she was able to travel in a car, for short distances and after just a couple of weeks was able to travel several hundred miles in a relatives car to recuperate with them (although they had lots of stops on the journey and had a wheel chair for moving around service stations during the stops).

itsthelittlethings

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81923787#Comment_81923787

Does the 90 day rule apply to pensions?

edit - ignore me, sorry I see it’s not to do with benefits.

p00hsticks

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81923686#Comment_81923686

Unless they are claiming certain other benefits which require them not to be out of the country for more than four weeks (I can't remember exactly which ones these are but think they include UC).