Moving to the Philippines with a disability

43387POSTS

6 years ago

Hello everyone,

Having a disability should not be a barrier to living abroad. While the intricacies of ones move to the Philippines may be specific to the individual, certain steps can be undertaken to make the process smoother.

What are the important aspects you would personally keep in mind during the planning phase (social security benefits, ongoing medical treatment, etc.)?

Are you required to go through a medical check-up before your move?

Are there any organisations or groups who lend support to expatriates who have a disability?

What are your thoughts on the infrastructure in the Philippines (public spaces, transportation and buildings)?

Are there enough opportunities to make the most of your social life in the Philippines? Are leisure activities made accessible to people with disabilities?

Please do share your experience with us.

Bhavna

See also

Work in the Philippines - Guide
Moving companies in the Philippines - Business
New Member moving to the Philippines - 21 Replies
Disability Benefits - 3 Replies
Intro and questions about moving to Philippines - 15 Replies
Thinking about moving to the philippines. - 17 Replies
Thinking of moving to the philippines. - 12 Replies

Enzyte Bob ViP

4294POSTS

6 years ago

First, the doctor that this person should see before thinking about relocating to the Philippines should be a Psychiatrist for even thinking about moving to the Philippines.

Second, Include in the travel plans a caregiver to take with them.

Third, They would have to give up their health plan an important consideration. Probably a handicap person would need more medical attention.

Fourth, They would only be able to bring one months prescriptions.

Fifth, They would pay much more for prescription drugs, often in my case the pharmacy does not have three months supply or the right dosage.

Sixth, They would need to find a specialist for their disability once arriving in the Philippines.

Seventh, Transportation would be a problem, they would be a prisoner in their housing.

Eighth, The Philippines does not have the infrastructure for handicapped people compared to first world countries, like the ADA in America.

Oursus Active member

43POSTS

6 years ago

Agreed - a buddy of mine lived in PI for a few years, & was unlucky enough to lose his leg & injure his back in an accident. He returned to the U.K., where I met him at work. He says there’s no way he’d live in PI now, just no support compared to the west.

bigpearl ViP

4325POSTS

6 years ago

The Philippines is not set up for the disabled "persons" and their needs, necessity is pushed to the back probably because of the costs to accomodate and change infrastructure to meet the needs. Going back 3 steps one only needs to simply look at parking arrangements here for all/the lack of and to add an additional parking spot for the "disabled" will be another 20 years unless in Manila and even then few and far between, and filled by ignorant and arrogant people because there was a space there, no laws governed for the protection of the disabled even in a city of some 13 million people. We are in the province and parking is at a premium for the abled bodied let alone the handicapped.
Even if one can find a regular park with a disabled loved one they are generally limited to the ground floor because most times the escalator is not working or no elevator in the complex or inaccessible via stairs. Welcome to the Philippines and remember "it's more fun in the Philippines"
As said above by Oursus. If you are disabled don't come to PH. as they can't look after their own let alone foreigners.

Well my first rant against a failed system, will I be blacklisted? Deported? Hope not as It's only an observation and if I remember correctly we, in Oz. only gave credence and recognition for the disabled some 20 odd years ago (slap me if I'm wrong). Voices need to go out to the hierarchy and really not my place as a visitor but perhaps the residents of this fine country can push for reform as they have always done, strong people and culture.

We have a new Robinsons mall being built, to be finished in 2020 and will be interesting to see how the disabled are catered for. Time will tell.

Cheers, Steve.

Zyrena Active member

46POSTS

6 years ago

good eveningh every one ,,
I have lived in pjillippines with my dissability two months ,,

The ppeople are very friendly it was very nerve wrecking when I went into the bank and there was armed gards with guns and at all the ATM machines as well at the entrance of all the big shopping malls
and the most terifying act was when i walked across the zebra crossing and no trafic did not stop [taking your klife in your hands ]] they are crazy drivers YES supprising very little road accidents ?
medical i was taken to see the local dfroctor or sudjested I go to the local hospital with a letter that had been written by the doctor I had just seen at the hospital they wanted paying first for the Endocopy treatment i had Php 12000 this was all the treatment that I had in that Hospital - I was having tummy problems ...
overall the phillippines are freindly people mind you the philippine people do look at english people as weird
to live in the phillippines you must understand their culture as they must understand the english people culture its not hard to do that ''NObut I am trying to learn cebuana= Visayan language thats what my wife speaks as well as perfect English ..
Regaards Terry
>>>>>>>>> W9XR
Today 10:23:04
Report
#2
you are wrong in thibking that way [[be a Psychiatrist for even thinking about moving to the Philippines.]]

Regards Terry

Zyrena Active member

46POSTS

6 years ago

W9XR
Yesterday 10:23:04
Report
#2

Philippines should be a Psychiatrist for even thinking about moving to the Philippines.
corrrection |W9xr ...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disabilit … hilippines https://asiafoundation.org/2011/10/26/o … ilippines/

Regards

mumbojumbo New member

3POSTS

6 years ago

Definitely the infrastructure is not for the handicapped ...difficult enough for the non -handicapped ....ok if you stay at home and have a maid do everything for you then maybe ...advice is choose another country ...you will trip over the never ending broken concrete or fall down a hole here !!

thomas622800 Member

3POSTS

6 years ago

Philippines is on the Social Security list of country you can receive your SSDI, OPM disability (Federal Worker) and VA disability. Also the Philippines is the only country that have a Veteran Affairs Medical Clinic in Manila. The VA will treat you only for service connected rating and they have benefits counselors to help submitting or follow up on claims. The Philippines also have SRRV visa for veterans. Where you pay $1400 for documentation and $1500 for a DC bank deposit for a total of $2900. You can also use your military Tricare here in the Philippines if you are retired military. This is why I chose the Philippines and have no regret been here for almost 6 years now

vega388 New member

9POSTS

6 years ago

How do you mean we can receive our SSDI here. Do you mean we can receive it here or we can draw from a bank there and the Government lets us use it in the Philippines?

gordy5938 Active member

72POSTS

6 years ago

#10

Hi. I moved to the Philippines about 18 months ago. I am disabled and brought my service dog with me. Life here has been a challenge. My dog isnt allowed anywhere like back home. Americans can still receive both their Social Security and VA disability here but the biggest difference is that the VA in Manila is functionally worthless and provides very little healthcare. Not all medicines are available here and the wise should enroll in Phil health to offset costs. People do not respect handicapped parking spaces here and few places are built to the same standards as in first world countries. But on the positive side, it is economical to employ helpers here. Even out in Mindinao.

Enzyte Bob ViP

4294POSTS

6 years ago

#11

SSDI Benefits are paid for six months after you leave the country. If you receive SSI benefits they stop 30 days after leaving the country and are reinstated once you return.

Rodjet0712 New member

6POSTS

6 years ago

#12

The infrastructure or lack of it is not accommodating for people with mobility issues. There is no ADA types of regulations here. Very little allowances are made to make anything wheelchair accessible.

voyager39 Member

22POSTS

6 years ago

#13

W9XR wrote:
SSDI Benefits are paid for six months after you leave the country. If you receive SSI benefits they stop 30 days after leaving the country and are reinstated once you return.

I think that the above statement oversimplifies the rule regarding receiving SSDI benefits. I found the pdf document with the following title. "Your payments while you are outside the united states"

There are various conditions for being able to continue receiving benefits while abroad. My understanding, based on the above document, is that if the recipient is a U.S. citizen and living in a country with which the U.S. has a social security agreement, that payments do not stop after six months.

Michael May Member

2POSTS

4 years ago

#14

I was just wondering if my disability pay and my va pay will continue if I move to the Philippines. I have ms, I'm not wheel chair bound.

dawgyellowlab Member

10POSTS

4 years ago

#15

Yes your payment will stay in effect. It does not matter where you live and as long as the Government does not go BANKRUPT you should be good. I would suggest keeping it going to the deposit in the states and then draw from the American Bank. The Philippine Banking system has got to be one of the worst in the world, they charge you for everything even to deposit or taking out from your own money. When transferring funds make sure you always have it transferred in Peso's and not USD other wise you will get hit with conversion fees. You will learn that there is nothing FREE in the Philippines, their GOD IS MONEY and they will try to screw you out of every penny. CYA

Michael mcDaniel Member

11POSTS

4 years ago

#16

Bob, not that your advice is completely wrong but it is fallible and certainly misleading. I recently moved to the Philippines and brought more than 1 year of prescription medicine. $3,000 of insulin alone!

Enzyte Bob ViP

4294POSTS

4 years ago

#17

Michael mcDaniel wrote:
Bob, not that your advice is completely wrong but it is fallible and certainly misleading. I recently moved to the Philippines and brought more than 1 year of prescription medicine. $3,000 of insulin alone!

Did you declare your 1 year of prescription to customs?

Ordinarily you are allowed to bring one months of prescriptions with you. I also brought more than one months prescriptions but later found out I was breaking the regulations through my ignorance. I was lucky not to be caught by customs as I entered the "nothing to declare line".

danfinn ViP

1935POSTS

4 years ago

#18

Well if you are the type to worry about the US government going bankrupt you may as well stay home. Most people take a level headed approach in such matters however. You should also have two other income sources in addition to SS and one would assume a worried person would prepare that way for retirement. Yet some people come here on minimum SS and have a great time and worry about nothing.

danfinn ViP

1935POSTS

4 years ago

#19

Medicine here is not subject to customs tariffs.

drule New member

7POSTS

4 years ago

#20

Do you have to get a letter from Your prescribing Doc? I’m taking Rx for my ADHD I’m worried they will confiscate my meds

Enzyte Bob ViP

4294POSTS

4 years ago

#21

drule wrote:
Do you have to get a letter from Your prescribing Doc? I’m taking Rx for my ADHD I’m worried they will confiscate my meds

I needed a prescription from my Doctor to import low dose 81 mg Aspirins. (1,000 for less than $10)

GuestPoster1923 Guest

0POSTS

2 years ago

#22

@Enzyte Bob After 6 months of living in Philippines Social Security Disability will stop paying you? Im trying to find out if i can live in Philippines long term and still get my SSDI payments? ty

Enzyte Bob ViP

4294POSTS

2 years ago

#23

78EJTWO asked . . . After 6 months of living in Philippines Social Security Disability will stop paying you? Im trying to find out if i can live in Philippines long term and still get my SSDI payments? ty

**************************************

I don't know for sure, but common sense tells me if you're eligible for SSDI what difference where one resides after qualifying? except in prison. As a backup you should maintain a US address, either through a family member, relative, friend or re-mailer

Also your SSDI payments are made to your bank account, most likely in the US. Thousands or maybe hundreds of thousands of Expats are living offshore but maintain an account in the US and transfer money as needed.

mugteck Serial expat

714POSTS

2 years ago

#24

If you are out of the USA for more than 6 months, then the SSDI payments will cease. Does not matter if you keep a USA address. SSA normal retirement benefits are not subject to that restriction.

GuestPoster1923 Guest

0POSTS

2 years ago

#25

@mugteck oh man that sucks, there goes the dream of living in Philippines. thanks ive been trying to find this out

Paco13 Active member

30POSTS

2 years ago

#26

Well I dunno about your country USA, but here in France you can keep disability until 3 months

bigpearl ViP

4325POSTS

2 years ago

#27

@mugteck oh man that sucks, there goes the dream of living in Philippines. thanks ive been trying to find this out
-@78EJTWO

Mentioned this before, get off your backside and talk to your prospective provider, get it in black and white straight from the horses mouth, good luck.

Cheers, Steve.

James Grant Member

1POSTS

last year

#28

@mumbojumbo I know this is a late reply, but handicapped is such a degrading word. believe me I am of an older generation, but I just wish that word never existed:)