The DWP payment can stop for some people if they go abroad
As summer holidays start taking off, PIP claimants are being reminded to inform the Department for Work and Pensions if their holiday meets certain criteria as they could risk their payments being stopped while they are abroad.
If you are claiming PIP and plan to leave the country for more than four weeks, you need to contact the PIP enquiry line “straight away”. You may need to tell the DWP details about your travel including why you are heading abroad and how long you’ll be away, both of which can impact if your payments continue while you’re out of the country.
Travelling for less than four weeks
If you’re out of the country for less than four weeks, you generally won’t need to tell the DWP. Short and temporary travel like this isn’t counted as a change of circumstances and usually won’t affect your eligibility for PIP.
Travel lasting more than four weeks
PIP claimants must inform the DWP if they plan to travel abroad for more than four weeks at a time. You can normally continue to claim PIP if you’re abroad for up to 13 weeks, this can be extended to 26 weeks if you are travelling for medical treatment.
According to the Daily Record, guidance on the Gov.uk website explains: “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.”
Going abroad permanently
In some cases, you or a family member may be able to claim benefits if you:
- work in the UK or pay National Insurance in the UK because of work
- have paid enough National Insurance to qualify for contribution-based benefits
- are getting State Pension, Industrial Injuries Benefit, contribution-based ESA or bereavement benefits
- are covered by the Withdrawal Agreement
However, you cannot claim the PIP mobility component if you are abroad permanently.
How to report a travel change of circumstance
To report a holiday of more than four weeks you’ll need to contact the PIP enquiry line on 0800 121 4433. Lines are open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Other changes of circumstances that PIP claimants must report to the DWP:
- Your condition or needs changes
- A medical professional has said you might have 12 months or less to live
- You go into a hospital, a hospice, a nursing home, care home, residential school or college
- You enter foster care or the care of a local authority or health and social care trust
- You’re imprisoned or held in detention
- 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
Full details about changes of circumstance if you are receiving PIP can be found on GOV.UK.
