Incapacity benefit whilst abroad
 

I am a new member to this forum - so apologies if the answers can be found elsewhere - I have looked but been unable to find .....
I am on incapacity benefit and am going to live in France in 3 months time. According to the rules I can claim incapacity benefit abroad if I tell my local jobcentre before I go, but how do I go about claiming it whilst I am abroad? Do I get sick notes from the French doctors? Do I have to pay to have them translated? do I have to come back to the Uk to have the DSS medical? Anybody any ideas??:) Thanks for any help...

Re: Incapacity benefit whilst abroad
 

I'm not entirely sure with this one, but I was under the impression that you could get it abroad if you were visiting but not if you actually move and live permanently abroad.

Leave it with me, I know a few peeps in the benefits agency and the CAB. I'll talk to them and then get back to you.

Re: Incapacity benefit whilst abroad
 

Thats brilliant - thank you

Re: Incapacity benefit whilst abroad
 

Well it's seems that I was wrong. Sometimes some types of disability benefits can be paid out if you are abroad. But there are all sorts of variables, it's not just a case of telling them. They have a special department, called the Exportability Team, who assess whether you qualify and for how long.

You'll find all the information you need and contact details here:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Disabled...port/DG_073387

Hope it works out.

Re: Incapacity benefit whilst abroad
 

As Celtic Princess says it`s a nightmare to work out, they have been taken to court by Europe and are doing all they can to delay payments.
Ask at the DWP what you need to do.
Also have a read here.....

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/lifeevent/benefits/atoz.asp

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showp...3&postcount=30

http://www.disabilityalliance.org/euro.htm

Re: Incapacity benefit whilst abroad
 

I forgot to link this one:

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/international/...enefits_05.asp

This section of the benefits agency website deals specifically with incapacity benefits abroad.

Contact the Citizen's Advice Bureau, they are fantastic at finding out exactly what you are entitled to, if any, and how to go about getting it. Contact details for them are here:

http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/getadvice.htm

Re: Incapacity benefit whilst abroad
 

You can have Long Term Incapacity Benefit in France and also Tax Credits and Child Benefit if you are in receipt of those as well, Contact the DWP Overseas team on 0191 2187648.

Re: Incapacity benefit whilst abroad
 

Yes you can receive incapacity benefit while abroad, if you inform job centre plus when and where you are moving to they will send your details to internationals up at tyne view Newcastle. Your money will have to be paid into a French bank account so you will have to open one if you have not already got one. If you are on the upper level of incapacity ie long term you do not have to supply sick notes,although they will from time to time send you for a medical near to where you reside.
I had one medical in 5yrs. buuuuuuut. Remember, the pound at the moment is rubbish and is forcing a lot of Expats home due to this, and France is not one of the cheapest places to live. Good Luck

Re: Incapacity benefit whilst abroad
 

Hi,
Yes, incapacity is payable in the EU.
I've found the people dealing with payments abroad to be excellent.
Medical reports can be written in the language of the country you are in.
As they lost all record of the diagnosis of my illness I had to have a medical here - wow it was quite a lot better then the last one I had in the UK where a doctor sat in an office in the jobcentre, the computer was broken, he had no previous knowledge of me or my illness and asked a couple of questions. Here I had a thorough physical, xrays you name it - then a psychological report - it would have cost a fortune for such a good check over in the UK!
But Disability payments are not payable abroad.

Re: Incapacity benefit whilst abroad
 

Yes, they are. But you have to have been in receipt of them before 1992.

Re: Incapacity benefit whilst abroad
 

Dont think so le chat

Re: Incapacity benefit whilst abroad
 

Graham. It's Le Chant.

Why don't you think so? Do you know for sure? I do. I speak from personal experience. Do you?

Re: Incapacity benefit whilst abroad
 

Well i first claimed incapacity in 1997 and have lived in Spain for the last 6yrs and have had no problem with claiming out here, thats why i speak from experience!

Re: Incapacity benefit whilst abroad
 

Re-read my post then. I wasn't talking of incapacity. I responded in bold to the question of disability benefits. These are mainly only transferable if you were a claimant before 1992.

Re: Incapacity benefit whilst abroad
 

The higher component of Incapacity has a built in disability payment anyway!, but be aware a lot of new rules for benefits have now come into affect ie: you can no longer claim tax credits abroad as of the 7th November 2008, but am i correct in thinking that this is the child component of Incapacity because the Incapacity payment does not include children?

Re: Incapacity benefit whilst abroad
 

Can you tell me why Tax Credits can no longer be paid abroad since 7/11/2008? I have had our claim stopped since we moved to France and was told that this is because since April 2008, Tax Credits are classed as a 'family benefit' rather than a 'family allowance' and can therefore only be claimed if you are in receipt of contributions based JSA. I don't think this is correct, because my understanding is that if we are 'insured' in the UK, via incapacity benefit, then the UK covers us for health (E121) and also 'family benefits'. In fact, because we are insured by the UK, we can claim neither 'family allowance' or 'family benefits' in France. I came to this site hoping to find the exact bit of law to quote to back me up and instead found the post prior to this one, which is a bit worrying!

Re: Incapacity benefit whilst abroad
 

Yes Hathor you can claim while you are abroad and live there permenent as well, You will have to have your incapacity paid into a bank of that country, from time to time they will send you for a medical in the country your living in, roughly every 4yrs hope this has been a help

Re: Incapacity benefit whilst abroad
 

No you are wrong you can no longer receive child tax credits if you live abroad permanent or child benefit this all changed Nov 2008

Re: Incapacity benefit whilst abroad
 

Yes i know what you mean Debra, they changed this Nov 2008 We came back to the uk in Dec and they stopped our child credits when i contacted them they said that they should not of been paying them to us while we was in Spain and then quote said because it was there mistake we would not have to pay it all back. they told me what you have quoted, I claim incapacity and claim for my wife and children through this although the child component of this is claimed through child tax credits, now i do not know if i am right or not but if you can claim incapacity while you live abroad then why can you not claim the child component ie child tax credits while you are abroad? Huuuum

Re: Incapacity benefit whilst abroad
 

Hi,
A friend of mine who owns a property here in Italy injured himself quite badly whilst visiting his property last year. He made a claim for Incapacity Benefit whilst receiving medical treatment & physio here in Italy, which is by the way far superior to anything he would have received in the U.K. He is still unable to work & is unlikely to be able to in the foreseeable future. Because he is unable to work back in the U.K., has no ties to keep him there, yet has strong family ties here in Italy he wishes to spend the rest of his time recovering here in Italy, where not only will he benefit from the support of his family & friends but will also benefit from the daily physio sessions he receives whilst here. He has just received payment for the 1st 6 months & has been told what his future weekly payments will be, but he has been asked to declare whether or not he is living full time in the U.K.
The assumption here is that if he elects to spend time here benefitting from the superior health care, family support & climate then he will LOSE his Incapacity Benefit. Is this so,or can someone remain on Incapacity Benefit whilst living in, or spending a large amount of time in another E.U. country? Thanks
Ernesto

Re: Incapacity benefit whilst abroad
 

Yes u can claim incapacity benefit while you live abroad, your claim will go up to Newcastle tyne side, just tell the Job centre plus where your claim is held and they will send you an international form.

Re: Incapacity benefit whilst abroad
 

We live abroad and still receive child benefit. However, for some reason they stopped paying it at the end of November and it took several phone calls for it to start again. The lady I spoke to was very apologetic but unable to give me a reason why it was stopped, except to say that it was an accident. Maybe it was linked to the law change last Nov, who knows. We are being paid again so I'm happy.

Re: Incapacity benefit whilst abroad
 

Do you mean Family allowance or child tax credits?

Re: Incapacity benefit whilst abroad
 

I mean child benefit (family allowance in old money). We are entitled to child tax credits but the hassle has beaten us and we gave up.

Re: Incapacity benefit whilst abroad
 

Take a look here http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/childbenefit/...ing-abroad.htm
Tell me what you think

Re: Incapacity benefit whilst abroad
 

You arent allowed child benefit/allowance when you are a resident abroad unless you are paying in to the Uk system in some way or were receiving an NI benefit..... for instance if your husband works in the UK and pays NI whilst you live abroad. You can use E109 to claim it apparantly.

To quote the Gov Site

If you move abroad permanently

If you're going abroad permanently, or expect to be away for more than 52 weeks, you won't qualify for Child Benefit unless both of the following apply:

• you are moving to an EEA country or Switzerland
• you are paying UK NICs or receiving a UK National Insurance-related benefit

Re: Incapacity benefit whilst abroad
 

Yes I know all that. He is a civil servant working abroad. I haven't had a chance to read the link yet. The fact that we get child benefit also means I have to look after said children!

Re: Incapacity benefit whilst abroad
 

You get UK child benefit if you live in a EEA country as long as your husband is still paying contributions to the UK or if either of you are receiving contributions based long term incapacity benefit from the UK (or other contributions based benefits) but what I'm being told is that they changed the rules on Child Tax Credit in April last year. The stopping of child benefit claims in November was, I believe, a mistake - I think they decided to clamp down on all abroad claimants and so closed them all, only reinstating it when you rang in and proved your claim was valid. Ours was stopped and reinstated. However, the tax credits is under appeal and we're presently being told no - but still arguing. I read the relevant law as saying that as long as we don't pay contributions in the EEA country we live in, the UK is still liable to pay us both family allowance type and family benefit type benefits. I'm waiting for someone to tell me exactly where it says this isn't right.

Re: Incapacity benefit whilst abroad
 

Humm that is a good point i excepted the fact when they told me they would not pay child tax credits abroad, i thinks i am going to take it further because you have a relevant point, that as long as we don't pay contributions to another EEA country but carry on paying contributions in the UK Hummm, ps i will let you know how i get on

Re: Incapacity benefit whilst abroad
 

Please can you help me:
I am going abroad to Southern Africa while receiving incapacity benefits. I have been informed that I must write to DWP and tell them of my absence from the UK. My councellor suggested going to spend time with my family in the hope that this might help me get better so my time abroad will be of a medical nature. When filling in my form for the DWP what must I provide them with? Also, the fact that I am going to Southern Africa - will this prejudice the possibility of me getting my benefits while I am abroad?
I've been on incapacity benefit for about a year now.

Trinity

Re: Incapacity benefit whilst abroad
 

Certain incapacity benefits are transferrable to certain countries. I know thats a bit vague, but you really need to ask the DWP to be 100% sure. You wont be able to claim unemplyment benefit of course if you are living there :)

Re: Incapacity benefit whilst abroad
 

I think you will find that child tax credits are not classed as a benefit and that is why they have stopped them

Re: Incapacity benefit whilst abroad
 

We are moving abroad too and we are obviously hoping to continue to receive our child benefit and child tax credits. You say you are entitled to child tax credits although the hassle made you give up. Have you had anymore luck with that and how is it that you are entitled to them? Thank you.

Re: Incapacity benefit whilst abroad
 

Normally you wont be entitled to Child Benefit if you no longer reside in the UK. Why should you be! :) You won't be living there any more! I'm not sure about child tax credits, but legally everything I have ever seen or read is that unless you still have a dependent living in the UK contributing to the NI system (I.E you reside in Europe but husband works and resides in UK), you dont qualify legally.

There are some benefits exportable now, such as the subject of this thread if you were alrteady claiming it when you moved.

Re: Incapacity benefit whilst abroad
 

,

Huum why should you be! why not? stood on a piece of land does not mean anything in this day and age, i thought we had a European union. does it really matter, if you are still paying into the system of your country, look where Britain has got with its political correctness up the swanny without a paddle. :lol:

Re: Incapacity benefit whilst abroad
 

Why not? Because you have made a decision to leave the shores of the UK and live elsewhere, paying your taxes elsewhere .... so you are no longer contributing to the system or resident in the UK. When I moved abroad I knew I would lose certain entitlements, and I accepted that. We do have a European Union, but unfortunately it's full of anomalies. Remind me again, whats the only country in the EU that doesnt use the €?

Re: Incapacity benefit whilst abroad
 

Maybe this is why Americans understand the EU more clearly than some EU members.. it's more similar to our Federal system where some basic things are covered by national laws but most personal things are left to the independant states.

I'm sure you could claim the benefits of the member country where you reside. However, even if I paid taxes in California all my life, if I move to Oregon, I'm entitled to Oregon benefits, not California's.

Re: Incapacity benefit whilst abroad
 

Hello, I have lived in Spain since 2006 and was able to export my LTIB which I have been in receipt of since 1996. Also my CTC and my CB.

I was last seen by a doctor in UK for my IB review 5 years ago and am now due for a renewal in July 2010. I spoke to the IB department and was informed that a letter would go to my doctor here in Spain and the usual renewal letter would be sent to me.

Also you can apply for DLA from outside UK. I did so in February 2008. I was turned down on the 26 week rule, but appealed on the fact that I am a dependent of a worker in the UK. Also my NI contributions are being paid by IB so I am up-to-date in the UK. The UK also pay for my medication in Spain.

My claim is currently with the Policy Department at the DWP and am awaiting result as I speak. If dependency is turned down it will go to appeal.

Re: Incapacity benefit whilst abroad
 

I have been in receipt of long term IB since 1996. And yes, you can export it to Spain, plus you don´t have to have it paid into a Spainish account if you dont want to, mine is paid into my account in UK. My Child Benefit and my Child Tax Credit is also paid direct into my UK bank account. I had no trouble what-so-ever in exporting these benefits and the DWP are well aware that I live in Spain on a permanent basis, they send all correspondence to my home in Spain. I do believe that I am able to get CB and CTC in Spain because I am on long term IB.

Also IB does not include a child component, it is desgined for the person who is claiming and does not not include your children. There is an age addition attached to IB and you also must have paid enough N.I contributions to be able to get IB in the first place. So whilst I was working in UK, I was paying NI and Tax and now because i can´t work IB are paying my N.I contributions which will allow for a full UK pension when the time comes.

My IB review is sometime in July, after 5 years. I telephoned IB department and was told that a questionnaire would be sent to my Doctor here in Spain and as she does not know my full medical history, I am allowed to help her fill in the form. Also I would the normal review form that you get from time to time and then send it back with doctors letter. IB did not say that I had to attend a medical here in Spain and also, I do not have to go back to UK for medical.

Re: Incapacity benefit whilst abroad
 

Does anyone have any updates on Long-Term Incapacity Benefit in (Spain). I am still in receipt of mine which started in 1996, but like I said earlier I have a review in July. I have heard that the Government want to get everyone of off IB and onto Job-Seekers. This would be pretty difficult if you do not live in the UK!!!!!!

Any thoughts