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Originally Posted by Womfloss
 Hello!
My husband is registered disabled and in receipt of DLA and incapacity benefit (following an industrial accident in 2001). We have been on holiday (Paralimini)twice in the last two years and we couldnt help but notice a definite improvement in his arthritis with the warm weather. Does anyone know, if we were to move to Cyprus would he still be able to retain his UK benefits. Any help/advice would be very much appreciated.
Sue |
Hi, I have just successfully negotiated my way through this very issue. You can continue to receive Long term Invalidity Benefit and the care component of Disability Living Allowance when you move to Cyprus as the EU has ruled that these are sickness benefits and can therefore be drawn anywhere within Europe. You cannot make a new claim for either AFTER you have emigrated.
However, the mobility component is not considered to be a 'sickness benefit' by the EU and therefore UK rules apply. The UK states that you must be resident in the UK to receive mobility component and you therefore cannot continue to claim it once you emigrate.
It took me 3 months to get a decision on my DLA.
Oh and good news, if you are in receipt of invalidity benefit then you (and any dependants) are entitled to an E121 for your medical care, provided you use the Cypriot State System. You will get the same cover as a Cypriot gets.