My wife had a stroke last August - brain haemorrhage which has left her quite immobile. As such she cannot work and I am looking after her - I am self employed but now not able to earn what I used to. We are looking to relocate to France if we can as we have equity to release. We could both take pensions (Linda's is teachers, mine is a SIPP) and live reasonably (but not enough to live in the UK without being extremely frugal) I am 61 this year, Linda 60. Linda already gets ESA (support group/contribution based) and the higher rate mobility componenet of PIP as well as the daily living component of PIP - we are challenging the assessment as we think she should be receiving higher rate My understanding is that we would not normally qualify for automatic entry into the French Health System as we are too young and , whiclt I could potentially work from France, we wouldn't necessarily want to register as Auto Entrepreneurs. We cannot get full health insurance due to Linda's condition. I notice that the list of ALDs in France includes as Number 1 :- 'Disabling stroke' - however it appears you have to be assessed in France for this condition and we wouldn't want to relocate before knowing if we could get health cover (and without insurance that has to be the French Health System) (I did enquire of the DWP in Newcastelt about S1 and they said they now only took applications for S1 a MAXIMUM of 4 weeks before relocation - so tough if you dont qualify, or they change the rules once you've made all other arrangements) I am finding it very difficult to assess what our 'status' is - I know there are certain benefits that are transferrable but I don;'t know if this means we get automatyic exemption via the ALD state without having to relocate to France first! Tbis also has ramifications for me as if Linda is coivered then I understand I would be too - but ALD implies only covering an induvudual for the exact ALD illness - but surely that would be under the Health System?? i.e. a Carte Vitale for Linda and hence one for me too? Any advice or knowledge gratefully received!! Thanks very much
