Retied looking to move for a short while
 

Good afternoon everyone.
Both my wife and I are retired and on personal independence through various illnesses. Joan is also on esa and in a support group and I have an armed forces pension..we have been considering moving over to Spain for our later years. But first want to try a 6 month stint to see if we could manage financially. We would like to rent somewhere for arround 6 month without breaking the bank..would we still be able to keep out benifits if we take this adventure. And what are the pro's and con's we could face moving over to Spain..we don't own our home here in the UK as we rent a council home that we share with our 20 year old grandchildren..if we were able to keep our benifits they would be enough for me and joan to live on our there
Thank you in advance Keith and joan

Re: Retied looking to move for a short while
 

Hi and a warm welcome to the Spanish forum on BE. Myself and Fred James are the moderators for the Spanish forums whilst BEVS moderates Europe. Moderators are there to ensure that the site runs smoothly within the rules of BE. This is so that members gain the information that they are looking for and find their experiences on the forums to be friendly and worthwhile.

Problems and complaints should always be addressed to a moderator who will look into the matter and deal with it efficiently and fairly. Our members who post in the Spain Forums are usually friendly and helpful with a wealth of knowledge about the issues of living in Spain. I hope that you enjoy your time participating in the forums.

Please let me know if you need any further help.

Rosemary

Re: Retied looking to move for a short while
 

Thank you rosemary. I look forward to socialising and gaining many new friend and who we will hopefully meet over in sunnier climates x

Re: Retied looking to move for a short while
 

Hi Keith, you should be aware that in law you cannot claim your ESA support group allowance abroad, so any permanent move would have to factor in not receiving this benefit. You can claim it for 4 weeks when abroad but have to advise your job centre plus if your circumstances change. Of course many people find a way round this to continue claiming their benefits, which I wouldn't encourage, but it happens. You would have to seek guidance on your personal independence claim but it is usually withdrawn with the exception of the daily living allowance part and that is decided by job centre plus. The 4 week living abroad rule also applies.

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but it is increasingly getting more difficult for people to claim benefits abroad, especially in your benefit stream as they are paid to people in the uk to manage their daily lives to a set criteria, and moving to Spain with all the disability clauses in the PIP allowance means you could be fit for work. You would have to work out the potential to retire here with your HM forces pension alone - and then your forthcoming govt pension and any other non benefits savings you have.

For your information.

Re: Retied looking to move for a short while
 

Thank you Keith for your reply it has given us good help. But not what we wanted to hear..looks like we will have to grin and bear it over here in the u.k 😦

Re: Retied looking to move for a short while
 

I would suggest you consider extended holidays, month here then week in UK and a month there. Thereby you will still be eligible for benefit and have the best of both worlds. With health issues you might want to check out nearest hospital and if you are under pensionable age, be aware only emergency cover is free with EHIC.

Re: Retied looking to move for a short while
 

Never say never Keith, everything is achievable, it's just that sometimes you need to change your plans to suit.

Re: Retied looking to move for a short while
 

If you chose the travelling to and fro that has been suggested it will take a huge chunk of money out of the income that you receive and would also take a toll on your health.

Also remember that you could also be in danger of losing your council housing if you either leave the UK to live in Spain permanently or even if you are proved to be not living in your UK residence the majority of the time. So if you did come here to live and then find that you cannot manage on the finances that you have and then return to the UK you would be on the bottom of the list for council housing and have to rent privately.

Rosemary

Re: Retied looking to move for a short while
 

Flights and long term package holidays can be very cheap when booked in advance.
It would seem OP is on a low fixed income and not quite sure how they intended to fund a 6 months rental?

Re: Retied looking to move for a short while
 

I feel that they have too much to lose both financially and support wise because it is very different here regarding what help you can get in comparison to the UK. Maybe better to wait until retirement.

Rosemary

Re: Retied looking to move for a short while
 

I would agree, I know many who regret moving to Spain. However, one never knows until you try. I would rather try and fail than live safe wondering what if..... ?

Re: Retied looking to move for a short while
 

I don't think so, when people are at all disabled and not well off. I agree with Rosemary and would suggest an annual holiday in the sun, because you can soak up a lot of sunshine and holidayness, return looking and feeling great and that can last for months.
Just have a holiday once a year and then you can see a new place each time.
It's too easy to encourage other people to take risks - they're the ones who'll have to live with the consequences. Sometimes dreams are best left as dreams - the reality may be a nightmare!

Re: Retied looking to move for a short while
 

I believe people with physical disabilities
like OP are able to decide for themselves.

Re: Retied looking to move for a short while
 

Duh! I'm physically disabled, too, and it's not that physically disabled people are stoopid (I am, but it's not a general rule) but that Spain is so very different from the U.K. and it's impossible really to know until it's too late - which is why intelligent physically disabled people sensibly ask for advice and opinions in forums.
No time for more - must hobble off for my weekly brain transplant.

Re: Retied looking to move for a short while
 

DUH, I think you have just proved my point. Just because OP is disabled need not restrict their choice.

Re: Retied looking to move for a short while
 

Thank you for giving the poster this information. None of us like to be negative and give bad news but at times it is necessary so that we do not encourage someone to do something foolhardy.

To the OP, my advice is to contact the benefits people to gain an insight into your particular benefits to find out exactly what you personally will lose or keep.

Rosemary

Re: Retied looking to move for a short while
 

No. I wasn't disabled when I came and one of the many reasons I regret having come is the treatment and lack of support for disabled people. The O.P. asked for opinions - I've given mine, which is the same as two others' (so quarrel with them instead, if that's what you want.)

Re: Retied looking to move for a short while
 

Sorry if this is insensitive but would it be possible for you to elaborate on what is available for disabled people here in Spain compared what a disabled person could expect to receive in the UK? I understand if you do not want to go into details so ignore me if you wish I will not take offence.

Rosemary

Re: Retied looking to move for a short while
 

I am not here to quarrel, au contraire, it is you who chose to disagree with my post. If you had read that post more carefully, you would see I too agreed with Rosemary.

Re: Retied looking to move for a short while
 

Just to add more insensitivity but I hear many many people wanting to spend six months in Spain in the off season. Great, but six months is a long time. Why not try out Spain @ six weeks at a time and keep options open? Accommodation is easy to pick up. The price per month in the off season is not going to jump because of six week rentals. I know several people (including me) who would be delighted with the occasional six week rental every year in the off season.

Re: Retied looking to move for a short while
 

Iyagree (again.) That way, it doesn't break the bank, doesn't b urn any boats or bridges, doesn't carry any of the hassles or burdens that accrue when one spends longer, is long enough to store up lots of mental and physical health - and you can still try out a new place each year if you want to.
There's something about bridge-burning that tempts British emigrants. In the bright light of the flames, everything glows, but afterwards you may find yourself with a blackened ruin of a bridge/boat in an ashy waste! :(
(Rather good, that - shoulda binna writer.)

Re: Retied looking to move for a short while
 

You are partly wrong. ESA can either be contribution based or income related. If you are in receipt of CB-ESA you can move to any EU country and still retain the payments. With regards to PIP you can keep the carers part but any mobility award will be withdrawn. Payment of Carers Allowance can also be paid if you are in receipt of CB ESA. I know this does not apply to the OP but if you are in receipt of CB ESA this opens up other benefits which can be claimed including Child Benefit and Child Tax Credits. As if you were in the UK you still have to go through the same health assessments in the EU country of residence. Another thing that people might not know, who are below retirement age, but are in receipt of a Contribution-Based benefit this will entitle you to a S1 for you and any dependents.

Re: Retied looking to move for a short while
 

You beat me to it,you can claim ESA if you are graded as being in support group as long as it's contributions based.I do wish people had facts before posting!If the OP contacts the Overseas Pensions and Benefits Office in Newcastle they will give them all the information they need before making the move.https://www.gov.uk/claim-benefits-ab...ility-benefits

Going abroad for more than a year

You can get contribution-based ESA in the EEA or Switzerland if you’re eligible and if you’ve paid enough National Insurance contributions.

Help and advice on ESA

International Pension Centre
Telephone: +44 (0)191 218 7117
Find out about call charges

Re: Retied looking to move for a short while
 

The question was in relation to ESA, not carers allowance or any other allowance, benefit. The contribution based Esa as well as mean tested Esa is the same and the four week rule applies. You have to apply to job centre plus for changes, having practised in this law area and criminal law for most off my life I can assure you this is accurate. And for CB based ESA there is no health assessment, a medical note suffices. Please don't confuse the issue, you are all over the place with your advice which is confusing for the OP. Keep it simple and look at the information you are being supplied with and not what you think it is.

Re: Retied looking to move for a short while
 

You are wrong and I am not the person giving incorrect information. The DWP
https://www.gov.uk/claim-benefits-ab...ility-benefits

Going abroad for more than a year

You can get contribution-based ESA in the EEA or Switzerland if you’re eligible and if you’ve paid enough National Insurance contributions.


Of course there is a health assessment for CB-ESA. In the UK the assessment was carried out by Capita (now Maximus) and you are awarded ESA based on your medical and how it affects your day to day life with a review date being given. I had my medical assessment completed in Lugo.

I have been in receipt of Incapacity Benefit and then CB ESA for the past 10 years. And all this time I have lived in Spain. And as I said above because I am in receipt of CB ESA I can claim Carers Allowance, Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit.

You may have practised in this law but I suggest it is time you updated your knowledge about this matter because you are incorrect. I just hope that you have not been parting your "knowledge" to other people and they would have lost out.

Re: Retied looking to move for a short while
 

It's not at all insensitive, but I've been thinking about it and I'm not the right person to ask; for a start, I came from France and know nothing about U.K. benefits, secondly, I wasn't disabled when i came. I don't want even to try to answer, as I'd probably make a mistake and it's too important a subject to risk a mistake.
But I do know that it's a very horrible thing to be ill and unhelped anywhere, but far worse when you're in a country you don't know well and where you haven't lived for years'n'years.
There's nothing like jumping the fence to that oh-so-much-greener grass to make you appreciate the grass you already had!

Re: Retied looking to move for a short while
 

Going abroad for more than a year

You can get contribution-based ESA in the EEA or Switzerland if you’re eligible and if you’ve paid enough National Insurance contributions.

Help and advice on ESA

International Pension Centre
Telephone: +44 (0)191 218 7117
Find out about call charges
And I imagine the medical assessment form I have to get my specialist to complete is a figment of my imagination.;)As was the trip I made to a DWP appointed Doctor.

Re: Retied looking to move for a short while
 

There is a medical assessment form but to recieve the 'CB ESA' for one year you don't need to have a medical assessment - of course if they suspect an issue or problem they will want to see you. You are referring to a means tested ESA. I'm leaving this thread now, like most threads on here they are turned in to egotistical arguments, the information I have supplied is accurate and correct, as I said keep it simple, don't try and elaborate, the facts are simple, as is life if people stop and think for a second or two before banging their gums via their keyboards.

Consider me gone Rosemary, a nice idea to try and help people it's another to end up with silly comments all the time when people want good and solid advice 👍

Re: Retied looking to move for a short while
 

My word, please 'Read' my reply, and then check it against the information you have on here. You clearly are struggling with processing information and look for issues that don't exist. CHECK what I have said, I actually agree with you, all you are doing is presenting more information and arguing with yourself ! I'm glad I didn't have you in court at any time I would have lost every case.

That's it thanks everyone for the messages on this. I think most of you know where the true and simple info is being given. :amen:

Re: Retied looking to move for a short while
 

Was that the bit nobody understood?;)

Re: Retied looking to move for a short while
 

Here it is simple:

Contribution-Based ESA Work Related Group payable for a maximum of 365 days. This benefit is exportable. After the 365 days have finished you can transfer to Income Related ESA which is based on your household income. But as has been said above IR ESA is not exportable.

Contribution-Based ESA Support Group is exportable and is payable indefinitely so long as you meet the Support Group criteria. The medical reviews are carried out in your EU country of residence between 3 months and a maximum of 3 years.

Keith 1963 has confused the matter enormously. But I would suggest anyone who is interested to read the gov.uk site (the link already given). Basically any contribution-based benefit is exportable, and so long as you meet the criteria, indefinitely.

No I am not a lawyer but I have 10 years of experience of living in Spain and many dealings with the DWP. And yes they do know I live here. To try and belittle other peoples advice as "silly comments" as it contradicts your own view is immature. The point of a forum is for people to communicate their experiences without belittling other peoples point of view.

Re: Retied looking to move for a short while
 

:goodpost:

Re: Retied looking to move for a short while
 

My wife is in a support group but I'm not sure if it's contribution based or income related..she has been in the support group for about 2 and half years

Re: Retied looking to move for a short while
 

It would say on her notification letter. As I have said above if the person is on Income-Related ESA Support Group this is not exportable.

If Contribution-Based ESA Support Group she will be able to export PIP (but not the mobility component), and Carers Allowance (if in receipt of PIP at middle or high component).

Your best bet is to dig out all your wife's paperwork and go from there. But please remember any income-related benefits (such as housing benefit) will be lost if you move to another EU country.

The telephone number for the Exportability Team at the DWP is given in an earlier thread and they will be able to advise you.