other members living in France re IB to ESA

I live in Fance and sent my ESa 50 back to England in November 2011. I am now waiting to see what happens next. I telephoned Newcastle to see if they had received my form, they said they had and it was with their interpreters, that was early Dec and I havn't heard anything else. When i spoke to Newcastlle about the form they told me that I would be treated in the same way as someone living in England, this is not the case, if you live in England and you are not transferred to esa from ib you can claim jobseekers allowance, we can't do that here, also if you lose your entitlement to esa you also lose any entitlement to health cover here in France(by means of the E121) which is pretty serious in its self. I have lived here for 9 years, before this I worked full time and paid into the English system all my working life, I was involved in an accident which was no fault of mine and suffered life changing injuries. Another point I think is worth stating is that if you are lucky enough to have £16k in savings, you are not entitled to esa anyway, but if you have enough points to be put into the WRAG, and have 16k, would you still be entitled to the health cover of the E121 even though you are not getting any money in the way of benefits?

If anyone living in France is worried about what will happen to them regarding losing health cover etc if we lose our IB when transferred to ESA.........I think we should try and keep in touch with each other through this forum, and give each other as much information as possible regarding our own experiences, so that we can build up a base of information built on our experiences. There doesn't seem to be any help/advice for people in our position, and as Gordon says he is unable to comment on the availability of benefits outside the UK. To be fair when I moved here 8 years ago I was told by the DWP that IB was transferable, and there would not be a problem providing we stayed in the EU. If you live in France, please check this website maybe once a week for any updates from other members in the same position, so at least we will be able to give some support and some information to each other.

Hello minky and welcome to the thread.

Very good suggestion of yours for all us ex-pats living in France now to keep in touch, and try and help each other in any way we can. There was shall we say a little while back a 'misunderstanding' when certain threads were being locked by moderators stating they are unable to assist people living outside the UK, which is fair enough, I suggested as you have asked for, that any ex-pats can keep in touch via this forum, which now thankfully is the case.

Regarding the question you asked about what may happen if placed in the WRAG and maintaining your E121, if you look at the link below, DWP state anybody who loses their benefit will also lose their health cover, as it will no longer be their responsibility, although is does not specifically mention CB WRAG. I suppose as we live in France they think we can just pop around the corner and visit Lourdes for a cure!

Link: www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/ib-reassessment-overseas.pdf

It does state that if you appeal any loss of IB by not being assessed to have limited capability for work, the assessment rate will be paid whilst waiting for your appeal, but no mention if the E121 will be withdrawn during the assessment period.

As you stated there is a bigger loss to us if the benefit is stopped living outside the UK, with loss of health cover as well as the benefit. I see you state you have lived here for 9 years, at least if you have the financial means you would have the option of paying into CMU-B for your health cover, unfortunately we have only lived here just over 3 years, so we will be well and truly screwed if my wife loses her IB.

Please let us know when you have any 'action' regarding your ESA-N-50 form you sent back in November, i.e. if you have to attend a medical, or have been successfully placed in the WRAG or SG.

Hi Landlord, and the others living in France and trying to get information.

As yet I haven't heard anything from the DHS regarding a having a medical here in France, but I'm expecting one as it seems a matter of course that this will happen to all of us claiments living abroad.

Sorry that you have not been in france long enough to join the cmu if your wife's benefit is taken away, I found out today that it costs 8% of your globle income! plus as you know we all have to have private medical insurance, and also pay at least 30% towards all Dr's appointments, drugs etc., and social charges (A surcharge or a type of premium towards the 'state funded' health care)as well as income tax, oh don't forget taxe d'hab and taxe fonciere.... I have listed this info for other people living in England who are getting ESA/IB and are thinking of coming to France to live, someone on this forum asked how easy was it to come over here and live.....think very carefully; its costs alot of money to get health cover here, especially if you lose your E121....

I have just noticed that there have been over 1600 views to this thread.....If you are living in France and are claiming ib/esa/dla I urge you to join this forum as it seems to be the only place where we will be able to share our experiences and give help and support to each other. If you like me have paid into the British system for years, were told that IB was transferable to the rest of Europe, we should be able to have at least our health cover (E121) sustained. We have to make a stand for our rights, the more people we have in this group the better our chances will be to take things further.