How overseas travel affects your DWP PIP payments

Roughly 3.5 million Brits who receive Personal Independence Payments (PIP) are being warned to notify the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) of any substantial changes, otherwise they risk having their support payments stopped.

The obligation to report changes doesn’t extend to circumstances such as a name or GP change. However, those planning overseas escapades for more than a month could find it affects their PIP benefits.

As highlighted in the GOV.uk’s official 2024 PIP Handbook: “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.”

So, it’s essential for anyone planning lengthy trips away this year to alert DWP promptly, bearing this in mind when organising travel plans, according to the Daily Record.

How to report a change of circumstances to DWP

You can report a change of circumstances to the PIP enquiry line on 0800 121 4433, which is open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Here’s a detailed guide to all the changes in circumstances and whether you need to contact the DWP about them

Changes to daily living or mobility needs

For instance, if you require more or less help or support, or if your condition will last for a longer or shorter time than you previously informed the DWP, you should notify them. This change may affect your entitlement to PIP, the amount and the period of the PIP award.

Leaving the country or planning to leave the country for a period of more than four weeks – even if this is a holiday. This change may affect your entitlement to PIP. The DWP needs to know the date you are leaving the country, how long you plan to be out of the country, which country you are going to and why you are going abroad.

Hospitals or similar institutions

According to DWP guidance, both components of PIP stop being payable 28 days after you are admitted to an NHS hospital. Privately funded patients are not affected by these rules and can continue to receive either component of PIP.

If you are in a hospital or a similar institution at the date your entitlement to PIP starts, PIP is not payable until you are discharged.

Care homes

The daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) ceases to be payable after 28 days of residency in a care home where the costs of the accommodation are met from public or local funds. However, the PIP mobility component can continue to be paid.

Those who fully self-fund their placement are not affected by these rules. If a claimant is in a care home at the date of entitlement, the PIP daily living component is not payable until they leave. Spells in hospital are linked if the gap between them is no more than 28 days. The daily living component for spells in a care home is also linked if the gap between them is no more than 28 days.

There is no link for the mobility component because payment is not affected when in a care home. Both components of PIP will stop being paid after a total of 28 days in hospital. The daily living component of PIP will stop being paid after a total of 28 days in a care home.

If a claimant moves between a hospital and care home, or vice versa, these periods will also link. This change may affect the amount of PIP that can be paid to the claimant if they are imprisoned or held in legal custody.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) needs to know the date the claimant was taken into prison or legal custody and the length of time they are expected to be there, if known. PIP ceases to be payable after 28 days where someone is being detained in legal custody. This applies whether the offence is civil or criminal and whether they have been convicted or are on remand.

Suspended payments of benefit are not refunded regardless of the outcome of proceedings against the individual. Two or more separate periods in legal custody link if they are within one year of each other.

Change of name

This change will not affect payment or eligibility for PIP, but it is important the DWP has the most up-to-date details for the claimant.

This change needs to be reported in writing – if the claimant phones to give these details, the DWP will ask for these details to be put in writing. The written notification must contain:

• full details of their previous name.
• their 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.
• their signature on the letter.

Change of account where PIP is paid in

The DWP needs full details of the of the name and address of the new bank or building society along with details of the new account including the name of the 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 for the claimant. This alteration is crucial to ensure that the DWP can make payments accurately and on time. They require the complete name, address, and contact information of the new representative for the claimant.

If the individual representing the claimant has relocated or has different contact details, the DWP simply needs the updated information.

Change of Address

Provided it’s not a hospital or nursing home, this change will not impact eligibility or payment of PIP. It’s vital that the DWP maintains the most current details for the claimant. They need comprehensive details of the new address the claimant has moved to, including the postcode and the date of the move.

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 occurs during the claiming stage, it’s essential that the DWP have the most recent information. This ensures that the assessment provider has the correct contact details to collect any additional details they may need.

The DWP requires the full name, address, and contact details of the new doctor or healthcare professional. Complete details about changes of circumstance if you are receiving PIP can be found in the online handbook here.

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