Universal Credit LCWRA and going abroad

HippieChicka
HippieChicka Online Community Member Posts: 3 Listener
in Universal Credit (UC)

Good morning, I'm new here and looking for advice.

Last year I won my PIP tribunal and received arrears payments, life was (and still is) kicking me hard, so I impulsively booked a holiday for myself and my daughter, after my best friend suggested we go visit her for some much needed respite. She can't put us up, so we've booked to stay at a small resort 5 mins from her apartment. When I booked I was on ESA for physical and mental health conditions-both of which have got worse, now I'm on UC LCWRA, so don't have any job search commitments or a work coach. Since booking, my Dad passed away, my daughter has suffered 2 patellar dislocations and now has a diagnosis of Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos, syndrome and my physical and mental health is fragile to say the least. Whilst looking on my UC account today to suss how to tell them about an upcoming rent increase, I saw the section that states you must report going abroad as a change of circumstances? How is a holiday a change in circumstances?

This has put me into severe anxiety mode! I'm already anxious about travelling as I've never travelled with my daughter, or been abroad in over 17 years, and now I'm in panic mode about telling them my travel plans in case someone decides that means I'm not ill enough to receive my current benefits. If I don't report it, I believe I could get sanctioned? If I do, could I get penalised and demonised?

I'm angry and confused....are disabled people not allowed some r&r? Why do UC need to know when I don't have any commitments?

I have searched previous posts and other forums, but the advice is so conflicting I just don't know if I should even go away....but cancelling will devestate my daughter as we really do both need an escape, and my bestie will be looking after us both.

Thanks in advance.

Comments

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Online Community Member Posts: 4,600 Championing

    Hi,

    The short answer is that UC can only be paid to UK residents. So they need to check how many days you spend out of the country. It's the same for everyone on UC, whether they work or not, and whether they get LCWRA or not.

    Personally I would recommend notifying them of your holiday dates. That should not trigger another WCA and isn't technically a change of circumstances.

    Having said that, some people do go abroad without notifying UC, so ultimately it's your choice.

  • HippieChicka
    HippieChicka Online Community Member Posts: 3 Listener

    Thank you 😀 do you know if I have to notify under change of circumstances or just put a note in my journal with the dates I'm away? Thanks

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Online Community Member Posts: 4,600 Championing
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1037915#Comment_1037915

    No problem. There should be a specific section for this on the changes page. But if not then you can just put a message in the journal instead.

  • Albus_Scope
    Albus_Scope Posts: 9,845 Scope Online Community Coordinator

    Heya @HippieChicka I can see you're already being helped out with your queries, but I just wanted to stop in and say a quick hello and welcome to the community. 😁

  • HippieChicka
    HippieChicka Online Community Member Posts: 3 Listener
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1038275#Comment_1038275

    Thank you! I'm still a bit concerned about having to report a holiday as a change of circumstances l, but I guess I'll have to.

  • rbz
    rbz Online Community Member Posts: 157 Empowering

    Everyone who claim UC must report about trips. Even about trips from England to Northern Ireland.

    All trips shorter than 30 days won't affect your UC claim.

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