Going Abroad with ESA

dmorgan123

Hi guys and gals, I have been recently put into the Support Group of the New Style ESA. I am hoping to go abroad for the winter ( My fibromyalgia is greatly affected by temperatures here in UK) but I am worried I will lose my ESA if I go for more than 4 weeks. I see online it says I can go abroad for up to 4 weeks and I need to notify DWP. What it doesn't tell you is, what happens when you go for more than 4 weeks, if the ESA is paused or stopped altogether for the duration of being abroad. 
Thank you for any advice

Hannah_Alumni

Hello @dmorgan123

I hope the trip will help your Fibromyalgia  

According to the GOV website;

Going abroad for more than 4 weeks but less than a year
Tell your local Jobcentre Plus if you’re going abroad for more than 4 weeks.
You can carry on getting contribution-based ESA for up to 26 weeks if you’re going abroad for medical treatment for yourself or your child.
It does not matter which country you go to.

Under the section for claiming New Style ESA it says:

Reporting a change of circumstances
You need to report changes to your circumstances so you keep getting the right amount of New Style ESA (and Universal Credit if you are claiming both).
Your claim might be stopped or reduced if you do not report a change straight away.
A change of circumstance can include:

• any changes to your health condition or disability

• going into hospital or a care home or sheltered accommodation

• starting or stopping work, education, training or an apprenticeship

• moving house

• changing your name

• changes to your pension

• changing your doctor

• going abroad for any length of time

Call the New Style ESA helpline if you’re not sure whether you need to report a change.

I think in this situation, I'd give them a call or speak to them when next at the job centre to confirm.