Thousands of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants planning summer holidays abroad must be aware that trips exceeding four weeks require prior notification to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), or risk having their payments suspended and being asked to repay any overpaid money.
Holiday Rules for PIP Claimants
The DWP treats any overseas absence longer than four weeks as a change in circumstances. Claimants must inform the department before travelling to avoid disruption. However, going abroad for five or six weeks does not automatically stop PIP. In most cases, payments continue for up to 13 weeks if the trip is temporary, and up to 26 weeks if the reason is medical treatment.
If a claimant leaves the UK for more than four weeks without notifying the DWP, the department may suspend payments, demand repayment of any overpaid amounts, or take further action due to the unreported change.
What to Report and How
Claimants planning a holiday of four weeks or longer should contact the DWP before departure. They will need to provide the date of leaving the UK, the duration of the trip, the destination country, and the reason for travel. As long as the absence is reported in advance and stays within the 13-week limit, PIP should continue normally.
It is advisable to keep copies of flight confirmations or booking details to verify travel dates if needed.
Universal Credit Differences
Those claiming both PIP and Universal Credit should note that different rules apply to Universal Credit, which usually stops if the claimant is outside the UK for more than one month, even if PIP continues.
Other Changes That Must Be Reported
Changes to Health
The DWP must be informed if daily living or mobility needs change, such as needing more or less help, or if the condition's expected duration changes. This could affect entitlement, payment amount, or award length.
Hospital Stays and Care Homes
Both components of PIP stop after 28 days in an NHS hospital. Private hospital patients are not affected. If someone is already in hospital when PIP entitlement starts, payments do not begin until discharge. In care homes funded by public or local authority funding, the daily living component stops after 28 days, but the mobility component may continue. Self-funding residents are not affected. Periods in hospital and care home within 28 days can be linked for calculation purposes.
Prison or Legal Custody
Claimants entering prison or legal custody must report the date and expected duration. PIP stops after 28 days in legal custody, regardless of conviction, remand, or civil detention. Suspended payments are not repaid later, regardless of the court outcome. Separate custody periods within one year can be linked.
Changes That Do Not Affect Payments
Changes such as name, address, or bank account do not affect PIP entitlement but should still be reported to keep DWP records accurate. Name changes must be reported in writing. Bank account changes require new bank details. Changes to an appointee or power of attorney should also be reported. Changing a doctor or healthcare professional does not affect payments after a decision, but should be updated during a claim.
How to Report Changes
Changes can be reported by calling the PIP enquiry line on 0800 121 4433, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. More information is available on GOV.UK.
