ESA and temporary absence abroad?

First, apologies if this has been covered, I have searched but cannot find an answer to this specific question.

Second, PLEASE, I do not need to hear people's opinions about whether this should, or should not, be allowable. I just need to know what the law/regulations provide. Thanks.

I am helping the mother of a disabled young woman who is in receipt of DLA HRM HRC and ESA support group. The mother also gets carer's allowance.

The mother's family is Greek Cypriot, although she was born in UK, as was her daughter, and her husband was English. The husband died two years ago, and the mother's family is in Cyprus.

The question is, how long can they go abroad for, without the daughter losing her benefits?

I know they could go and live in Cyprus, and export ESA and DLA HRC, but not HRM. But this is not an option, and they don't want to move out there permanently.

I also understand that she could go abroad for up to 6 months and still keep both elements of DLA.

But from what I can find out, she can only go abroad for up to 4 weeks before losing ESA. My understanding is that the rationale for this is that ESA claimants must make themselves available for work related activities, however that clearly does not apply to someone in the support group.

I understand that long term IB did not have this restriction (though I am happy to be contradicted about that).

The question is relevant because the daughter is not well enough to cope with travelling out and back within a month as she has a long recovery period even after short journeys. However, perhaps understandably, the mother is reluctant to lose ESA, with all that re-applying entails.

The mother is at the end of her tether and needs the support of her family, but I really do not know the answer to this question.

Thanks a lot for your help

Dx