People who claim Personal Independence Payments could have their benefit stopped due to certain holiday rules.
Claimants who are planning to go abroad for more than four weeks may see their payments stop if they do not inform the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) before leaving. If you change your address, GP surgery, your name or health professional you don't need to tell the DWP and there will be no change in your payments.
But going away for a long period of time may leave you out of pocket. Guidance in the 2023/24 edition of the PIP Handbook on GOV.UK states: “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.”
Read More: List of DWP benefit rises and cost of living payments coming in June
You can report a change in circumstances via telephone on 0800 121 4433 - lines are open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, the Daily Record reports. If you’re planning on enjoying an extended holiday this summer, make sure you contact the DWP with the details they have asked for as soon as possible - and keep it in mind when booking.
Apart from extended holidays, there are a number of changes in circumstances that the DWP needs to be informed about. These include any changes to daily living or mobility needs.
You should tell the DWP if, for example, you need more or less help or support or the condition will last for a longer or shorter time than you previously told them about. This change may affect entitlement to PIP, the amount and the period of the PIP award.
To get the latest money news direct to your inbox, click here
Read Next:
DWP Universal Credit warning as half a million people have benefits cut due to sanctions
DWP Universal Credit sanctions - what you can do if you have your payments cut
DWP benefit claimants could have bank accounts and social media monitored in fraud crackdown
DWP rules for Universal Credit claimants who are going on holiday and how benefits are affected
