If you experience a change in your personal circumstances, and are a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimant, you must inform the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or risk losing the benefit.
There are a number of changes that will not affect your entitlement to PIP, such as changes to your name, doctor, or address.
However, others need to be reported as soon as possible, including if you leave the country for longer than four weeks — even if just for a holiday.
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As reported by the Daily Record, this is because being out of the UK for a period of more than four weeks may affect your benefits.
According to the DWP: “This change may affect the claimant’s entitlement to PIP. We will need to know the date the claimant is leaving the country, how long they are planning to be out of the country, which country they are going to and why they are going abroad."
If you have planned a lengthy holiday this summer, it's important that you get in touch with the DWP as soon as possible.
How to report a change of circumstances to DWP
To inform the DWP of a change in circumstances, you can get in touch with the PIP enquiry line on 0800 121 4433 — which is open 9am to 5pm on weekdays.
Read on for a full breakdown of common changes in circumstances and whether they need to be reported to the DWP.
Changes to daily living or mobility needs
If you require more or less help with your condition than previously reported, you should inform the DWP.
You should also tell them if you have learned that you will have the condition for a longer or shorter time than previously thought.
These changes could affect how much you receive.
Leaving the country or planning to leave the country for a period of more than 4 weeks - even if this is a holiday
As previously stated, this may affect your PIP entitlement.
The DWP need to be informed of the date you are leaving, how long the trip will be, the country you are visiting, and your reason for travelling.
Hospitals or similar institutions
According to DWP guidance, PIP will no longer be paid after 28 days of a claimant being admitted to an NHS hospital.
states that both components of PIP cease to be payable 28 days after the claimant is admitted to an NHS hospital.
Patients receiving private treatment are not affected by this rule and can continue to receive both components of PIP.
If a claimant is in hospital or a similar institution at the date entitlement to PIP starts, PIP is not payable until they are discharged.
Care homes
The daily living component of PIP will no longer be paid 28 days after claimants take up residency in a care home, though the mobility component will continue to be paid.
Those who self-fund their accommodation are not affected by this rule.
Imprisonment or claimant held in legal custody
The DWP must be informed of the date a claimant is taken into prison or legal custody, as well as how long they are predicted to be there.
This may alter the amount of PIP that a claimant can receive.
Detained in legal custody
PIP will no longer be paid after 28 days of being in custody, regardless of whether the offence is civil or criminal.
Suspended payments of benefit are not refunded regardless of the outcome of proceedings against the individual.
Change of name
While this will not affect whether you are eligible for PIP, it is important that you keep the DWP informed of your most up-to-date details.
The DWP will need to be informed of a change of name in a written notification, which must include:
Your full previous name
Your new name
Details of any changes made to the bank or building society account into which PIP is paid, such as the name of the account or the account number
Your signature on the letter
Change of account PIP is paid into
You must inform the DWP of the full details of your new bank or building society, and the name of your new account, the account number and the sort code or roll number.
Change of person acting for the claimant
This refers to an appointee or someone with power of attorney.
It is important to report this change so that the DWP can send payments to the correct person and the correct time.
They will need to be informed of the full name, address and contact details of the new person who is acting on your behalf.
If the person acting for the claimant has moved or has different contact details, the DWP just needs the new details.
Change of address
Assuming your new address is not a hospital or a nursing home, this will not impact your PIP eligibility, but it is important that the DWP has your most up-to-date details.
They need full details of the new address the claimant has moved to, including the postcode and the date that they moved.
Change of doctor or healthcare professional
This change will not affect payment or eligibility for PIP and is not mandatory once a decision on the PIP claim has been made.
However, if the change happens during the claiming stage it is essential that the DWP have the most up-to-date information. This will make sure the assessment provider has the right contact details to gather any further details they may require.
The DWP needs the full name, address and contact details of the new doctor or health care professional.
Full details about changes of circumstance if you are receiving PIP can be found in the online handbook here.
