disabled and looking for a new life in torrevieja-am I crazy or can I actually do this?

Hi everyone-I am currently in the UK looking to relocate to torrevieja I am disabled -my eleven year old is too she has autism, I have two boys seven and five and I am desperate for a new life. What I need to know is ....what heppens when I am in Spain and my D.L.A. or my Daughters comes up for review??  will the health service in Spain be able to assist myself and my Daughter? how reliable is the Spanish health system? will I find myself in Spain with no D.L.A. in the future?? any advice would be very gratefully accepted.

 Hi there

I don't think coming to Spain at this moment in time would be a good choice at all. The country is nearly bankrupt and severe cuts are being made in all areas, including health and education. Taxes have gone up, unemployment is rising, hundreds of people lose their homes every week , the crime rate is on the increase as people are getting desperate, etc. I could go on but it's just too depressing. So, unless you can live without the need to get a job for quite some time, I would not recommend a move to Spain, no matter how grim your life may seem in the UK. The expression that jumps to mind is that you would be jumping out of the pan into the fire. My advice would be to research other alternatives. Best of luck!

 Check out the following link for info on this from the British embassy  http://ukinspain.fco.gov.uk

 The Spanish health system has NO extras like the UK. Dental care is not free.The basic service could be considered good. 

You will get no help with autism problem, have to pay for ALL books and equipment for school and now we all have to pay a percentage of prescriptions. Unless you are retirement age there is no free entry to the Health System unless you are working and pay 200 euros+ per month. 

Here are some question to ask yourself-

1.Why do I want to make this move? Is it the weather? Summer right now is SO hot and we all hide indoors or go to the beach or swimming pool. In the Winter the houses can be colder than outside and are hard to heat.Spring and Autumn are wonderful!

2.Do I have enough income to live independently? In some cases disability allowance continues overseas but my friend needs to take a translator to be checked in an interview. 

3.Do I speak Spanish adequately? Children learn fast in the school but we adults are different!

4.Have I searched around this site for so many answers to the DO's and DONT's and other places too?

Spend time here- yes, but DONT make a final move that you can't  return to the UK easily. So many areas are like ghost towns now as people find increasing living costs etc. 

Having said all that we would not return to Scotland to live and it IS possible to make a good life here but you have to work at it!