DWP warns people who claim Universal Credit that popular perk won't extend to them
The Department for Work and Pensions has issued a warning as people who claim Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment face a delay in a key perk. Labour Party MP Sir Stephen Timms warned a digitial channel that will allow recipients of disability benefits, other low-income supports and the State Pension to report changes with ease has been delayed.
Timms stated that this system is "not expected to be complete for at least another 12 months". And it won't be extended to Universal Credit claimants. Sir Stephen said: "For disability benefits, the usual route for the customer to notify us of a hospital admission is either via phone or in writing."
The MP went on, speaking out in the Commons and saying: "Universal Credit customers can report a hospital stay via a phone call, they can also report it digitally via a journal message on their Universal Credit account or via a third party or supporter if consent has been given."
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You need to tell Universal Credit about any changes in your circumstances. If you don’t, your Universal Credit payments may stop or be incorrect. If you do not report a change you may not get all the money you are entitled to and you may get more money than you are entitled to, and you would have to pay this back.
If you are not sure whether a change will affect your claim, contact Universal Credit to find out. Examples of changes include getting a job, stopping work, having or caring for a child and your child stopping or restarting education or training if they’re aged 16 to 19.
Other changes could be moving home, changing your bank account, changing your mobile number or email address, changes to your savings, investments and how much money you have, your rent going up or down, becoming too ill to work or meet your work coach and if you and a partner move in together, or stop living together.
Other changes could be reaching State Pension age, if you live in the UK and you leave the UK for any length of time and changes to your immigration status. This is not a complete list of changes.