DWP will stop monthly PIP payments over innocent summer holiday mistake

People on PIP could see monthly payments stop if these changes are not reported to the Department for Work and Pensions. The DWP has fleshed out changes you need to report or risk your lifeline benefit payments being axed.

You must contact the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) enquiry line if your personal details change, for example your name, address or doctor, the DWP has said, as well as the help you need or your condition changes, and if your condition has worsened and you’re not expected to live more than 12 months.

You need to report if you go into hospital or a care home, or if you plan to go abroad for more than 4 weeks, or if you’re imprisoned or held in detention, or if your immigration status has changed, if you’re not a British citizen. You could be taken to court or have to pay a penalty if you give wrong information or do not report a change in your circumstances.

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People must report a change in doctor or healthcare professional, change of address, change of person acting for the claimant and change of account PIP is paid into. Other changes which need to be reported are changes in name, whether you're detained in legal custody, imprisonment, linked spells in a hospital or a care home, stays in hospitals or similar institutions, and whether you are leaving the country or planning to leave for a period of four weeks or more - even if it's a holiday, the DWP said.

It 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.”

Contact the PIP enquiry line to report a change of circumstances and call the ‘PIP enquiry line’. If you need someone to help you, you can ask for them to be added to your call - you cannot do this if you use textphone or ask someone else to call on your behalf - you’ll need to be with them when they call.