Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support is available for employment and support allowance claimants who have had to leave the country for more than 28 days.

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) can continue to be paid when a claimant is temporarily absent from Great Britain for more than 28 days where an absence is in connection with treatment in relation to their limited capability for work, or the health of a dependent child, provided they continue to meet the other conditions of entitlement. In these cases, ESA can continue to be awarded for the first 26 weeks in a 52-week period.

In addition, where ESA claimants travel abroad for NHS treatment, or move to live with a partner or close family member who is a serving member of the armed forces there are no time limits.