ESA holiday abroad

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sab

I was informed I have to contact ESA if I go abroad to fill a form in even if it's just a short break.....is it true?  I have family abroad and I'm wondering do I have to fill a form every time I visit them. Thanks

Sam_Alumni

Hi @sab
This information is from the gov website:

You need to report changes to your circumstances so you keep getting the right amount of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

Your claim might be stopped or reduced if you don’t report a change straight away.

A change of circumstance can include:

• starting or stopping work, education, training or an apprenticeship
• moving house
• changing your name
• people moving into or out of the place you live (for example your partner or a child)
• changes to the benefits you or anyone else in your house gets
• changes to your pension, savings, investments or property
• changes to other money you get (for example student loans or grants, sick pay or money you get from a charity)
• changing your doctor
• any changes to your medical condition or disability
• going into hospital or a care home or sheltered accommodation
• going abroad for any length of time

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

You may be prosecuted or have to pay a £50 penalty if you give wrong or incomplete information, or don’t report changes straight away.

How to report

You can report a change of circumstances by:

• calling the ESA helpline
• writing to the Jobcentre Plus office that pays your ESA - the address is on the letters you get about your ESA

ESA helpline
Telephone: 0800 169 0310
Textphone: 0800 169 0314