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Would PIP be removed if I went abroad for three months at a time?

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1 year 8 months ago #279178 by Lee
Hello everyone, I am retired since 2016 and suffer from a number of disabling conditions.

My partner has returned to her home country after taking care of me for the previous 4 years. She has to take care of her father who is ill.

She is an experienced carer with a degree in Psychology, she is also a meditation teacher and massage therapist, and when she was here in the UK, she helped me with meditation and mindfulness for my mental health, and also provided daily massage treatments which helped with my back pain, stiffness and mobility issues.

My partner has also previously provided care and support and prompting for me relating to taking my medication, making food, shopping, helping with dressing and washing due to nerve compression and chronic pain in my lower back.

She also provided care and support for me managing my mental ill health, ensuring i take my meds, helping me with my suicidal thoughts and panic attacks, and calming me down when i display violent tendencies and acts when I am in any kind of confrontational or disagreement situation. This arises from my severe depression and anxiety that started as a result of workplace bullying, it is like PTSD but not diagnosed as such.

Her home country is warm, and the back pain which i suffer from, and the associated problems lessen when i am in a warm climate. Furthermore, I am more relaxed when I am in her country as the people are very friendly, I stay in a peaceful village where everyone is like family, Buddhism is widely practiced and I do not suffer as much from the adverse effects of my mental health condition whilst I am on holiday there.

I am considering taking extended holidays of 3 months at a time between the UK and her country so we can be together and for me to receive her support and care.

I am really struggling with life since she has gone home to take care of her father and since she left in February 2023, my problems have significantly worsened to the point that I do not go out anywhere other than to collect my son from his mother on a Friday, go to Lidl on the way home and then return my son to his mother on a Sunday. My anxiety causes panic attacks and my only social interaction is with my son who is almost 13.

My partner calls me at least twice a day to make sure I am taking my meds, attending medical appointments, eating and washing etc.

I have a reasonable pension from my previous employment, and the low cost of living in my partner's country will allow me to save enough for the flights to be taken business class every three months.

The last time i visited was in 2018, and prior to 2018, I traveled there at least twice a year for extended periods of time. I was not claiming any benefits at that time.

I double-dosed on my meds which caused me to sleep through the whole flight, The journey was very difficult but was made easier by using the disabled facilities in the airports and being supported by a friend who traveled with me. The journey is very familiar to me, I have been traveling to her home country once or twice a year for the past 35 years and have many friends and ex-work colleagues living there. I struggle to get there, but once I am there life gets a little better.

What would the effect on PIP be if I decided to go abroad for 3 months at a time? Would it be removed? I still suffer from the effects of my conditions when I am abroad, however, my quality of life is better when i am there with my partner. I have an ongoing PIP claim with a phone assessment next week.

Thanks in advance

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1 year 8 months ago #279190 by Gary
Hi Lee

Thank you for your post, you raise an interesting question which I have just looked up in the disability rights handbook.

The hand book states the follow; You continue to be entitled to PIP, AA, DLA, CDP and ADP during a temporary absence (defined as unlikely to exceed 52 weeks) abroad for the first 13 weeks or the first 26 weeks, if the absence is solely in connection with medical treatment for your illness or disability that began before you left GB
PIP Regs, regs 17 & 18

You may want to seek advice from your local Welfare Rights Organisation; advicelocal.uk

Gary

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems

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