The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued a critical reminder to all recipients of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), warning that certain changes in circumstances must be reported or individuals risk having their benefit payments suspended or stopped entirely.
What Changes Must You Report to the DWP?
It is vital for claimants to understand which life changes require immediate notification to the DWP. While alterations to your name, address, or GP do not affect your eligibility and are not mandatory to report post-award, keeping your records up-to-date is advised. However, several other changes carry significant consequences if left unreported.
One of the most common pitfalls involves travel outside the United Kingdom. The official GOV.UK guidance states that intending to leave the country, or actually leaving, for more than four weeks—even for a holiday—can impact your PIP entitlement. The DWP requires details including your departure date, the duration of your trip, your destination, and the reason for travel.
Health, Hospital Stays, and Care Home Residency
Significant changes to your daily living or mobility needs must be reported, as they can alter the level or length of your PIP award. Furthermore, admission to an NHS hospital triggers a key rule: both components of PIP cease to be payable 28 days after you are admitted. Those who privately fund their treatment are exempt from this rule.
The rules for care homes are similarly specific. The daily living component of PIP stops after 28 days if your accommodation costs are met by public or local funds, though the mobility component continues. Periods in hospital or a care home are linked if the gap between them is 28 days or less.
Legal Custody and Changes to Payment Details
If a claimant is imprisoned or held in legal custody, PIP payments will stop after 28 days. The DWP must be informed of the date taken into custody and the expected duration. Separate periods in custody are linked if they occur within a year of each other.
Other changes that require reporting include switching the bank account your PIP is paid into, or a change in the person acting for you, such as an appointee or someone with power of attorney. For a change of name, while it doesn't affect payment, the DWP requires written notification with specific details.
How to Notify the DWP of a Change
To report any of the changes listed above, claimants should contact the PIP enquiry line on 0800 121 4433. The telephone lines are open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. For changes of name, written communication is mandatory even if you initially call.
The DWP's guidance underscores the importance of proactive communication to avoid unexpected disruptions to essential financial support. All claimants are urged to review their circumstances and contact the DWP promptly if any applicable changes have occurred or are planned, particularly with summer holidays on the horizon.
