ESA Holiday Confusion

Hi all,

I have been on ESA for about a year now. I have a rather nasty chronic illness that prevents me from working that turned up out of the blue about 18 months ago. Depression has been a huge issue recently and my doctor has suggested a long holiday to help which my parents have kindly offered to pay for. The length of holiday I am looking at is 2 months, my question is how will that effect my ESA ? A little digging seems to throw up the answer that 4 weeks is the maximum time allowed for a holiday outside of the UK but I also see 13 and 26 weeks thrown around as well.

When I notified the DLA about being away should I expect them to refuse a request of 2 months ? Or will I just get ESA for the 4 weeks then nothing for the next 4 weeks until I return when it resumes as normal ? Or will my ESA stop completely and I will have to reapply all over again ?

Thanks for any help,

Sean

Hi Gordon,

Thanks for the reply. So my best bet is to make the DLA aware of my 2 month visit and proceed with the holiday, dealing with either no problems or the rapid re-claim when I return ?


Also My current ESA status is I have not yet had my medical review. If that goes successfully I will be back paid for the increase in benefits from when I first applied. If my visit closes my claim and I have to do the rapid re-claim does that jeopardizes the back payments ?

Thanks,

Sean

Gordon,

I did not suggest not telling DLA, in fact I said the opposite. That I should make them aware of the 2 month visit knowing I will only get ESA for the first 4 weeks then look at the rapid re-claim once back? I take it by making them aware of the holiday that if i miss the medical review it will not result in my claim being closed ?