People claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP) must report certain changes to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) straight away or risk being taken to court or having to pay a penalty. The DWP warns: "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."
What is PIP and how much can you get?
PIP is provided to people who have a long-term health condition or disability and have difficulties carrying out everyday tasks or getting around because of that condition. The amount of money you get depends on your personal circumstances.
There are two parts to PIP: a daily living part if you need help with everyday tasks and a mobility part if you need help with getting around. Whether you get one or both parts will be based on how difficult you find everyday tasks and getting around.
You could receive between £76.70 and £114.60 a week for the daily living part and between £30.30 and £80 a week for the mobility part. However, claimants must follow the rules set out by the DWP in order to continue receiving the money.
The 11 changes you must report
Claimants must contact the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) enquiry line straight away if any of the following changes occur:
- 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 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
Extra rules for care home residents
If you go into a care home, there are a few more things to bear in mind. You'll also need to report if:
- There's a change to the way your care home fees are funded (for example, you start or stop getting funding from the NHS or local council)
- You were staying in the care home temporarily and you become a permanent resident
- You move to another care home
- You go into hospital
In addition, you must also contact the PIP enquiry line straight away if your personal details change, for example your name, address, phone numbers, bank account or doctor, or someone is acting on your behalf and that person changes. These changes will not normally affect your eligibility for PIP or how much you get but the DWP needs to be kept up-to-date with your details.
The PIP enquiry line is 0800 121 4433.
