§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what arrangements exist for benefits to disabled people to continue if they decide to accompany their families to live abroad.
§ Mr. HagueSickness benefit, invalidity benefit or severe disablement allowance may be paid for up to the first 26 weeks of a person's absence from the United Kingdom if the absence is temporary, the person has remained incapable of work, and either the person has gone abroad for the specific purpose of receiving treatment for an incapacity which began before the person left this country, or the person was continuously incapable of work for at least six months up to the date before the absence began, or, for SB and IVB only, the incapacity for work is the result of an industrial accident or prescribed disease.
Attendance allowance or disability living allowance may be paid during a temporary stay abroad for up to six months. It may be paid for longer if the absence is for the specific purpose of getting treatment for the illness or disabling condition.
620WSpecial provisions exist to assist members of the immediate family of forces personnel to receive these benefits overseas.
Industrial injuries disablement pension may be paid indefinitely to a person who leaves the United Kingdom to reside abroad.
In addition, the above benefits may be paid indefinitely if the disabled person is going to another European Economic Area country, provided that the EC regulations on social security for migrant workers apply in their case, or if he goes to a country with which we have a social security convention which provides for this.
Income support cannot be paid abroad. However, special rules may allow disabled people to be paid in respect of the first four weeks of a temporary absence, on their return to the United Kingdom Housing benefit may be paid during a temporary absence not exceeding 52 weeks, again subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions.