ESA and lengthy holiday in Europe

I receive contribution based ESA and have been 'parked' by the Shaw Trust until next January. I know you cannot answer personal questions but would be grateful for any information on the following (I have looked at the thread on IB and living abroad - and the Spain one):
If a person and their husband were to travel for about 3 months in our caravan around France/Spain etc, would this affect the person's ESA - could they still receive it? Would this person have to inform ESA/Jobcentre of their travel plans, or would it just be regarded as an extended holiday?
Thankyou for your help! Lainie x

Hi,

As I'm now retired as a WRO, I'm not up-to-date with ESA, as it only replaced IB for new claimants from November 2009.

I do remember that for IB, claimants were obliged to let the DWP know if they were leaving home, even for a short period.

Presumably, this is still the case for ESA.

Perhaps Crazydiamond our moderator who was an Adjudication Officer for the former DSS (now called Decision Makers and working for the DWP) could give a more definitive answer.

Kind regards.

Jim

Jima1 wrote:

Hi,

As I'm now retired as a WRO, I'm not up-to-date with ESA, as it only replaced IB for new claimants from November 2009.

I do remember that for IB, claimants were obliged to let the DWP know if they were leaving home, even for a short period.

Presumably, this is still the case for ESA.

Perhaps Crazydiamond our moderator who was an Adjudication Officer for the former DSS (now called Decision Makers and working for the DWP) could give a more definitive answer.

Kind regards.

Jim

Hi Jim,

You are correct.

The strict letter of the law insofar as benefits/allowances such as IB and ESA are concerned, determines that you should inform the DWP of any intended absence from your usual address, however short the absence may be.

The purpose is that the DWP may need to contact you within the specified time limits to undergo either a PCA or WCA. Why this should be the case I do not know, because if the rules are applied properly, you have a maximum of six weeks to return the IB50/ESA50. That said, a short break of a week or two shouldn't make any difference. However, different SS benefits have different rules for absence abroad, so it is best to inform the DWP at the earliest opportunity preferably in writing, especially if the absence is intended to be for three months, as in the OP's case.

Regards,
CD

Thank you for your answers, and for your ongoing help!¬ Lainie x