DWP PIP claimants going on summer holiday must follow four-week rule - or face fine

Those claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP) must adhere to specific rules set out by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) when planning their summer holidays, or they could face having their payments halted.

PIP is a benefit designed to assist with additional living expenses forindividuals with long-term physical or mental health conditions or disabilities that make certain daily tasks or mobility difficult due to their condition.

Planning to leave the country for more than four weeks - even just for a holiday - could impact your entitlement to this disability benefit. It comes after reports DWP state pensioners are set to be given 'extra £352' completely free.

If you're considering a holiday that lasts longer than four weeks, it's crucial to inform the DWP immediately to avoid potential fines.

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In addition to holiday plans, there are other changes in circumstances that require immediate communication with the DWP. These include hospitalisation, changes in the level of assistance needed for daily living and mobility tasks, or incarceration, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Claimants who neglect to report these changes may face fines or even court prosecution.

Changes such as altering your name, doctor, health professional, or address do not need to be reported to the DWP and will not affect your payments. However, it's beneficial to ensure the details the DWP has on file for you are current.

Holiday rules for PIP claimants

The latest edition of the PIP Handbook on GOV.UK has issued a warning for those planning to leave the UK for more than four weeks, stating: "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're jetting off abroad this summer, it's crucial to inform the DWP with the necessary details as soon as possible - and bear this in mind when planning holidays later in the year.

Even if you're heading overseas, you might still be eligible for PIP if your trip lasts up to 13 weeks - or 26 weeks if it's for medical treatment.

Full list of changes that must be reported to DWP

We've compiled a comprehensive list of things PIP claimants must report to the DWP.

The department warns: "These changes can affect your PIP award. Depending on the change, your PIP could go up, go down, stay the same, or stop. You could be taken to court or have to pay a penalty if you give wrong information or do not report a change straight away."

You must get in touch with the Personal Independence Payment enquiry line immediately if:

• you need more or less help with daily living and mobility tasks
• your health professional tells you that your condition will last for a longer or shorter time than you reported before
• a medical professional has said you might have 12 months or less to live (you could get PIP at a higher rate under ‘special rules for end of life’)
• you go into a hospital, a hospice, a nursing home, or a care home
• you go into a residential school or college
• you go into foster care or into the care of a local authority, or a health and social care trust
• you’re imprisoned or held in detention
• you plan to go abroad for more than 4 weeks
• your immigration status changes, and you’re not a British or Irish citizen
• you start or stop getting pensions or benefits from an EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein
• your husband, wife, civil partner, or a parent you depend on starts or stops getting benefits from an EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein

How to report a change of circumstances to DWP

Contact the PIP enquiry line on 0800 121 4433 to report a change of circumstances - lines are open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

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