I have a mate aged 60 years of age who is in the UK and about to be put on sick benefit as he is not fit to work anymore.

He is thinking of coming to Thailand to improve his quality of life as his benefit and private income will go a lot further over here.

Is it possible for him to maintain his claim and recieve his sickness benefit from Thailand?

Many Thanks.

I thought "new Labour" put a stop to all that?

Sorry, I don't know, but don't think so.

I have a mate aged 60 years of age who is in the UK and about to be put on sick benefit as he is not fit to work anymore.

He is thinking of coming to Thailand to improve his quality of life as his benefit and private income will go a lot further over here.

Is it possible for him to maintain his claim and recieve his sickness benefit from Thailand?

Many Thanks.

Look at this site - it does say you may be able to get some benefit if you go overseas

http://www.direct.gov.uk/DisabledPeople/Fi...6082&chk=Yr2L11

Its in the "What to do if your circumstances change" section

Not much detail but at least it says its possible to get something under certain circumstances

Also have a look at this one for over 50s living abroad, it would appear you can claim mainly in EEC countries but I have not followed all the threads so there might be some hidden oyster!

http://www.direct.gov.uk/BritonsLivingAbroad/fs/en

Thanks for the replies guys.

Your friend also needs to take into account a few other factors. For example:

(a) His UK state pension (when it kicks in) will never increase, even though pensioners in the UK get annual increases.

( If he's sick, he probably won't want to make regular visa runs, so he'll want a retirement visa. That means having a minimum of 800,000 Baht in the bank in Thailand.

There was a guy from Northeast England living near me last year who was on "incapacity" benefit, (seemed fit enough to me - went to the gym every day!) who had to return to UK about every 3 months to report for a "medical" at his local Soc. Security office. He paid for his trip home by taking several thousand cigarettes with him which he sold in UK. He is not here now, last I heard he had been "captured' by customs in Gatwick airport.

Looked into it all 2.5 years ago when moved here permanently. 6 months out of country per year OK. Permanent living requires a letter of confirmation from your doctor, or preferably Specialist, saying that treatment is required abroad, or the conditions are necessary to improve your medical condition. Haven't heard that anything's changed.

Depends on your condition, but if not permanent disability, they may make it awkward as PREM-R states by making you return frequently.

DWP are having a crackdown on these type of benefit claimants. So as long as you abide by the rules, then there should be no problem. Apparently the criteria is going to tighten up and the claimants are going to be reassessed to see exactly what type of work they can do as many have been on benefits for years and will receive rehabilitation both physically and work orientated. Was spread all over the newspapers about claimants living it up in Thailand while on benefits, big scandal.