Living abroad

How can they ESA work if you live outside the U.K
To pass from incapacity to ESA you need to live within the U.K from what I have read on the internet.

I asked this question to the overseas dept and was told that was my problem.

I am beginning to realize why so many Brits
are returning to the U.K as they cannot survive abroad if they have brought the
benefit with them. Is there an Group in France or Spain united to try and save their situations. If you loose the benefit you also loose the healthcare
as being unable to work due to illhealth.
It is a crisis situation.

Just another thought. Is there any group that deals with people that have emigrated to help improve their living conditions with their illness or MPs that we can contact or is it merely a way of getting people off benefit.

I have looked of the internet but it is rearely mentioned on french forums

Hi Worried
It seems we have the same concerns I to ahve scoured French sites I have even posted on Anglo Infos Forum but not a single reply I do not believe you and I are the only expats in France that this will effect I still Have not had a date for my medical no rush

Hello Worried and Windmill, as I have mentioned previously, myself and my wife live in France, and it is my wife who is in receipt of IB. Like yourselves we are concerned as regards to her IB reassessment. We have lived in France for nearly 3 years, so is my wife loses her IB before we have completed 5 years residency, we will lose are healthcare cover also if I am not able to find employment. Whatever DWP claim about my wife's health she has no chance of working again.

Worried I am a little confused with your statement that CB ESA is not exportable to another EU country. Like anybody in the UK if placed in the WRAG it will be means tested, and stopped after 12 months if savings are above £16,000 or you have a working partner. That is assuming the bill passes through The Lords, which I guess is a foregone conclusion.

I am posting a link from DWP laying out how the migration will take place for anyone living within the EU, I hope this will alleavate any fears you have about CB ESA not being exportable.

www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/ib-reassessment-overseas.pdf

I know things are pretty scary at the moment but try not too worry too much at the moment.

This new system, which will be passed without any shadow of a doubt, not only effects those living abroad - I will be hit seriously if I do not get into the Support Group.

My wife works and I get a pension from the Civil Service on which I pay both Income Tax and National Insurance, the break in the link will cost us around £600 per month. The question is - if they break the link does it mean I dont have to pay eitehr tax or NI, and why should I - I wont get anything in return for it (Sorry Cameron will say - you get the NHS and Police) so maybe he will let us live in our own little private room in a hospital, cause we wont be able to afford our present accommodation - I wont get JSA either becuae of my pension.

The question is - how will it work for people like me?