welfare benefits & money advice worker, colebrook housing society plymouth Member since 01st Feb 2004
being out of the country Wed 29-Oct-08 08:48 AM
I have a client who is in receipt of pension credit (guarantee) plus late husband's pension. Her son wants to take her to warmer climes each winter (Spain) and wants to know how / whether this will affect her benefits. I see that there is a 26 week limit re being out of the country. They plan to go for about 16 weeks each winter so I'm assuming she'll be ok re her PC / OAP. Is this right? Anything else to consider? Thanks
Welfare Rights Training and Support Officer, Birmingham City Council Birmingham Member since 31st Mar 2006
RE: being out of the country Thu 06-Nov-08 11:32 AM
She will be able to take the State retirement pension and any private pension indefinitely. The SRP would also be uprated (if applicable) as she is going to an EEA state. There would be a problem with the pension credit as this can only be taken abroad for 13 weeks. This recently changed as it was 4 weeks previously. Is she in receipt of any Housing or Council Tax Benefit as this may also be affected - again she would be allowed to go abroad for a temporary absence for 13 weeks but would have to fit in to more specific criteria were it to be longer than this.