Hi, my name is Jessica12! Can I still claim PIP if I go to Spain for 3 months? — Scope | Disability forum
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Hi, my name is Jessica12! Can I still claim PIP if I go to Spain for 3 months?

Jessica12
Jessica12 Community member Posts: 4 Listener
edited March 2021 in PIP, DLA, and AA
I suffer with chronic arthritis and have suffered badly this last winter. My friend lives in Spain and keeps asking myself and my husband to stay with her for 3 months during the winter as the heat and Sun will help me immensely.
If I decided to do this can I still claim my PIP allowance as we could not afford to do it otherwise. Also would this effect taking other holidays during the year? Although I have looked online it is very vague as to whether it is allowed. Thank you.
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Comments

  • janer1967
    janer1967 Community member Posts: 21,964 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi there 

    From what I have read you can go for up to 13 weeks and still claim PIP 

    However I dont know but this maybe an annual amount

    You would be best ti contact welfare rights 

    If you claim any other benefits they are affected differently 
  • calcotti
    calcotti Community member Posts: 10,010 Disability Gamechanger
    edited March 2021
    https://www.gov.uk/claim-benefits-abroad/illness-injury-benefits
    Going abroad temporarily
    You can claim the following benefits if you’re going abroad for up to 13 weeks (or 26 weeks if it’s for medical treatment):Tell the office that deals with your benefit that you’ll be away.

    As janer says, rules for other benefits are different. 

    Jessica12 said: Also would this effect taking other holidays during the year? 

    https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/910729/admc2.pdf

    C2056 In certain circumstances a person who is absent from GB can be treated as present. This applies to four groups
    1. Claimants who are temporarily absent
    2. Claimants who are temporarily absent in order to receive medical treatment abroad...

    C2057  A claimant is temporarily absent if, at the beginning of the period of absence, their absence is unlikely to exceed 52 weeks.

    C2058  A claimant who is temporarily absent from GB shall be treated as present for the first 13 weeks of absence. At the end of that 13 weeks, ..the claimant will cease to satisfy the condition of entitlement to PIP that they be present in GB.

    I can't find any explicit guidance on repeated absences.


    Take note that it is 13 weeks - not three months. I also can't find guidance where a day when you leave GB or arrive back in GB counts as a day in GB or whether you have to be here for the full 24 hours.


    Information I post is for England unless otherwise stated. Rules may be different in other parts of UK.
  • woodbine
    woodbine Community member Posts: 11,519 Disability Gamechanger
    At the moment no one is going on holiday and that will probably be the case until June or July this year.
    2024 The year of the general election...the time for change is coming 💡

  • calcotti
    calcotti Community member Posts: 10,010 Disability Gamechanger
    woodbine said:
    At the moment no one is going on holiday and that will probably be the case until June or July this year.
    I assumed they were thinking ahead to next winter.
    Information I post is for England unless otherwise stated. Rules may be different in other parts of UK.
  • Jessica12
    Jessica12 Community member Posts: 4 Listener
    Well as this winter is nearly over its obvious I meant next winter if restrictions allow!!
  • Jessica12
    Jessica12 Community member Posts: 4 Listener
    Looked it up eventually and now know what to do if I decide to go.
    Thanks for info.
  • woodbine
    woodbine Community member Posts: 11,519 Disability Gamechanger
    Jessica12 said:
    Well as this winter is nearly over its obvious I meant next winter if restrictions allow!!
    sorry my mistake <wraps self on knuckles>
    2024 The year of the general election...the time for change is coming 💡

  • Jessica12
    Jessica12 Community member Posts: 4 Listener
    It's the bad months Woodbine like Dec Jan, Feb they have crippled me this year. Haven't been out much so lockdown was neither here not there. Apart from not catching it obviously!!
  • Tori_Scope
    Tori_Scope Scope Posts: 12,488 Disability Gamechanger
    I'm glad you were able to find an answer @Jessica12 :) 
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