BENEFITS ABROAD

This page will tell you if you can get benefit whilst abroad.

Please contact the Policy Section for more details or advice.

You may also find the information on Reciprocal Agreements useful.

Child Benefit (CHB)

Yes If the visit is temporary, CHB remains payable for up to 8 weeks.

Special rules apply for a longer absence

No If the person receiving CHB or the child for whom it is payable leaves the Isle of Man permanently, payment stops from the date of departure.

Disability Working Allowance (DWA)

If DWA is already in payment, entitlement continues for the rest of the fixed period of award.

Guardian's Allowance (GA)

GA is payable whilst abroad if the absence of the guardian or child is only temporary and Child Benefit is still payable for the child.

If the guardian or child is going abroad for more than eight weeks, or permanently, payment stops from the date of departure

Incapacity Benefit - Short-Term Lower Rate

Yes

If the absence is temporary, the same conditions apply as for short-term higher and long-term rates. See below.

If the absence is to be permanent, IB ceases unless the sickness has lasted for over 26 weeks.

Incapacity Benefit - Short-Term Higher And Long-Term Rate

Yes

Short-term higher and long-term Incapacity Benefit remains in payment for the first 26 weeks of temporary absence from the Island if -

the customer has gone abroad to get specific treatment for incapacity which began before he left the Island; or
he has been sick for over 6 months and remains so for the temporary absence abroad; or
he is going (for any length of time) to a country with which the IOM has a reciprocal agreement.

Special provisions exist that allow payment to continue beyond 26 weeks if the customer is a family member of a member of the Forces -

who is abroad and with whom they are living; and
where the absence is specifically for treatment of an incapacity which began before leaving the IOM; or
they have been incapable of work for the past six months and remains so during the absence.

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB)

If the customer is in receipt of IIDB and goes abroad he can continue receiving benefit as follows -

IIDB and Industrial Death Benefit can be paid anywhere abroad at the full current amount, but you cannot get Industrial Death Benefit for a child unless the child's and/or your absence abroad is only temporary.

Constant Attendance Allowance and Exceptionally Severe Disablement Allowance can be paid to a customer for the first 6 months of a temporary absence abroad (longer in certain cases).

Reduced Earnings Allowance can normally be paid for the first three months of temporary absence from the UK if the allowance started before the customer left and he has not gone abroad to work. It can sometimes be paid for longer than this.

Unemployability Supplement may be paid for up to 26 weeks if the absence abroad is temporary.

Carer's Allowance (CA)

Yes

If a customer goes abroad for a temporary absence (less than 4 weeks), CA usually remains in payment.

If the carer goes abroad for the specific purpose of caring for the disabled person then it can remain in payment, provided all the qualifying conditions remain satisfied i.e. Attendance Allowance/Constant Attendance Allowance/Higher or Middle Rate Disability Living Allowance remain in payment to the disabled person.

Customers should contact the Disability Benefits Unit, Markwell House, Market Street, Douglas before going abroad.

Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)

If a person is absent from the Island for a whole day or more he is not usually entitled to JSA, although in specified circumstances a jobseeker who is temporarily absent from the Island may continue to be entitled to JSA for a specified period.

Customers must contact the Employment Group, Ground Floor, Markwell House, Market Street, Douglas before leaving the Island.

Maternity Allowance (MA)

Same as for Incapacity Benefit (see above).

Retirement Pension, Bereavement Benefits And Widows Benefits

Yes

They remain in payment.

The rates of these benefits are frozen when living in certain countries. This means that annual increases will not be paid and the benefit will remain in payment at the same rate as that payable when the customer left the Island.

If an absence will be over six months, notify the Pensions Group, Markwell House, Market Street, Douglas.

War Pensions

War Disablement Pensions and War Widows Pensions can usually be paid anywhere in the world. If a customer is in receipt of a War Pension and intends to live permanently abroad he/she should inform the War Pensioners Welfare Office, Markwell House as soon as possible.

Additional Notes

In all cases it is advisable that Head Office, Markwell House, Market Street, Douglas be contacted before a customer leaves the country.

Downloadable Documents

NI 38(IOM) - Social Security Abroad (560 kb)

Format:Acrobat PDF File

This leaflet gives information about getting benefits abroad, and paying National Insurance.

Section 16 - Benefits and Contributions Information Guide. (30 kb)

Format:Acrobat PDF File

This is an excerpt from our guide which gives more detail of the affect on benefits of moving to or from the Island.

You will need Adobe Acrobat to download documents that are PDFs, this is available free by following this link:

DisabledGo Information

Terms & Conditions