Yahoo News DWP rules on taking holidays abroad for Brits claiming benefits
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has set out a series of rules that those claiming benefits must adhere to if they plan on taking a holiday abroad this year. These regulations apply to millions of individuals receiving universal credit, personal independence payments (PIP), and other benefits.
The guidelines state that the DWP must be informed if you intend to be outside of the UK for a prolonged period or continue your job search while overseas. In certain cases, you may also need to remain at home and not travel abroad if you're awaiting the processing of specific claims.
The government has detailed changes in circumstances that must be reported to ensure you continue to receive the correct amount of universal credit. Failure to do so could lead to overpayment, which would then have to be repaid. If you're submitting a new claim for universal credit, you must be in the UK on the day of submission.
Generally, you should be safe to travel abroad later that same day or return from a holiday earlier that day. You can take a holiday for up to one month, but you must stick to the conditions of the claimant commitment agreed upon when you first applied for universal credit, reports Yorkshire Live.
If you're on Universal Credit, you must provide evidence of job-seeking activities, such as job applications. In extreme cases, you might need to return to the UK for an interview or to start work.
To report changes, contact the universal credit helpline at 0800 328 5644. PIP claimants must inform the authorities if they plan to leave the country, even for a holiday.
The latest PIP guidance states: "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."
Leaving the UK for more than four weeks could affect your PIP payments. The advice adds: "We need to know if the claimant's condition, the amount of help they need or their circumstances change."
"This is because it may change how much PIP they can get. It is important the claimant tells DWP straight away about any changes in their life that could affect their benefit."
"Based on these changes their benefit may go up, go down, stay the same or it may stop. If the claimant is overpaid, they will normally have to repay the money. Failure to tell DWP about any of these changes may result in prosecution."
"A temporary absence abroad for up to 13 weeks may be allowed, or up to 26 weeks if the absence is specifically for medical treatment. The claimant should notify us if they are planning to go abroad for four weeks or more."
