CESA and temporary absence

The client is getting CESA since 2014 and in the support group.  No IR ESA paid as savings too high.  She also gets PIP and partner claims CA.

Partners father lives in Argentina and is not well.  They plan to go over and stay with him in November.  For various reasons the stay has to be 10 weeks.

I assumed that her CESA will stop and she wont re-qualify on NIC/earnings basis so have to claim dreaded UC.

However when she has made this trip before (last year same sort of time) the CESA claim was paid for first 4 weeks then ‘‘put on hold.’’ 

When she returned to the UK in Jan 2019, the area she was living in was UC full service, but she was able to reclaim CESA.

So I am missing a subtlety? she ceases to be entitled to payments but her claim can continue? 

Many thanks in advance!

EKS