Claiming from abroad, anyone in the same situation

I've been claiming IB and DLA for over 20 years and have been living in France for the past 2 years.

We had a house here in France and a flat in the UK and couldn't afford to keep both and as it was proving impossible to sell the house here and finding that it WAS possible to export the benefits made us decide to be based here.

The exportability team for the DLA and the international pension service (IPS) who handle the IB were both very helpful and I took their advice before considering the move.

Now I have received the ESA 50 form and am totally confused! When I look online it says that it is not possible to claim ESA when abroad but IB will no longer exist - so what will become of my benefit?

I spoke to the people at the IPS and they didn't seem to know what to say - just said to fill the form out and see what happens!

Is anyone else in the same position or has anyone gone through the form filling and still receiving their benefit?

I'm female, 60 next year and reach my pension age when I'm 62.

Suki
Smith wrote:

I've been claiming IB and DLA for over 20 years and have been living in France for the past 2 years.

We had a house here in France and a flat in the UK and couldn't afford to keep both and as it was proving impossible to sell the house here and finding that it WAS possible to export the benefits made us decide to be based here.

The exportability team for the DLA and the international pension service (IPS) who handle the IB were both very helpful and I took their advice before considering the move.

Now I have received the ESA 50 form and am totally confused! When I look online it says that it is not possible to claim ESA when abroad but IB will no longer exist - so what will become of my benefit?

I spoke to the people at the IPS and they didn't seem to know what to say - just said to fill the form out and see what happens!

Is anyone else in the same position or has anyone gone through the form filling and still receiving their benefit?

I'm female, 60 next year and reach my pension age when I'm 62.

Hi Suki,

If you look on the two links below, there are threads re ESA and DLA in France.

Also if you put France into the search engine at the top of the page, several threads will come up also.

One of the other Mods may offer you further advice on this issue.


www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/forum?func=vie...id=10&id=63414#63414

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/forum?func=vie...65917&catid=10#65917

bro58

Thank you both for the links - I will read them a little later