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Going abroad for medical treatment
RSISolutions
Member Posts: 113 Courageous
I'm considering going abroad for medical treatment. I'm not sure how long I will go for. At least 1 month and probably up to 3 months. Im currently in receipt of ESA (waiting for ESA appeal). Am I entitled to a benefit whilst I'm abroad receiving medical treatment ?
Replies
I think 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 but i'm not sure if it's income based. Take a look at this:
https://www.gov.uk/claim-benefits-abroad/illness-injury-benefits
There are a few answers to this question depending on your circumstances.
1. You can continue to be entitled to ESA whilst abroad indefinitely if your absence is for NHS treatment at a hospital or other institution outside Great Britain.
2. You can continue to be entitled to ESA whilst abroad for the first four weeks for any reason, if your absence is unlikely to exceed 52 weeks.
3. You can continue to be entitled to ESA whilst abroad for the first 26 weeks, if your absence is unlikely to exceed 52 weeks and is solely in connection with arrangements made to treat your disease or disablement which is which is directly related to your limited capability for work or that of a child you are accompanying.
Lee
Please get back to me if you have any more problems
No difference, Lee is talking about income-based ESA here - conditions remain the same re household income/capital/etc
Mary