People claiming Personal Independence Payments must report certain changes to the Department for Work and Pensions or risk losing out on their benefit payments
Anyone claiming Personal Independence Payments (PIP) must report some significant changes to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or face the possibility of losing their benefits. There’s a list of certain changes, such as your name, healthcare provider, or address, which aren’t mandatory to report but it’s advised to maintain accurate records with the DWP.
Furthermore, if you’re going abroad for over a month, even if for a holiday, this might affect your PIP. The updated PIP handbook advises holidaymakers: “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.” Claimants should tell the DWP any relevant details of their trip before going on holiday, reports the Daily Record.
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How to report a change of circumstances to DWP
If you’re facing a change that needs reporting, get in touch with the PIP helpline on 0800 121 4433, available from Monday to Friday, between 9 am and 5 pm.
Changes to daily living or mobility needs
Changes to your daily living or mobility requirements should be communicated to the DWP. This includes if you need more or less help, or if your condition is anticipated to last longer or shorter than previously stated.
Such changes could influence your Personal Independence Payment (PIP) eligibility, sum, and duration.
Leaving the country
If you’re considering leaving the country for over four weeks – even for a holiday – this could impact your PIP entitlement. The DWP needs to be informed of your departure date, the length of your stay, your destination, and the purpose of your journey.
Stays in hospital or similar institutions
According to DWP guidelines, both components of PIP stop being payable 28 days after admission to an NHS hospital. However, privately funded patients are not affected by these rules and can continue receiving either component of PIP.
If you’re in hospital or a similar institution when your PIP entitlement begins, PIP won’t be payable until you’re discharged.
For those in care homes, the daily living component of PIP stops being payable after 28 days if the accommodation costs are covered by public or local funds. However, the PIP mobility component can continue to be paid.
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Those who fully self-fund their care home placement are not impacted by these rules. If a claimant is in a care home at the date of entitlement, the PIP daily living component is not payable until they leave.
Hospital stays and care home stays are considered linked if the gap between them is no more than 28 days. The daily living component for spells in a care home is also linked if the gap between them is no more than 28 days.
There is no link for the mobility component because payment is not affected when in a care home. Both components of PIP will cease to be paid after a total of 28 days in hospital.
The daily living component of PIP will stop being paid after a total of 28 days in a care home. If a claimant moves between a hospital and care home, or vice versa, these periods will also link.
Imprisonment or claimant held in legal custody
This change may affect the amount of PIP that can be paid to the claimant if they are imprisoned or held in legal custody. The DWP needs to know the date the claimant was taken into prison or legal custody and the length of time they are expected to be there, if known.
PIP ceases to be payable after 28 days where someone is being detained in legal custody. This applies whether the offence is civil or criminal and whether they have been convicted or are on remand.
Benefit payments that have been suspended are not refunded, irrespective of the proceedings’ outcome against the individual. Two or more separate periods in legal custody are linked if they occur within a year of each other.
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Change of name
This alteration will not impact the payment or eligibility for PIP, but it’s important that the DWP has the most current details for the claimant. This change must be reported in writing – if the claimant phones to provide these details, the DWP will request that these details be put in writing. The written notification should include:
- full details of their previous name
- their new name
- details of any changes made to the bank or building society account into which PIP is paid, such as the name of the account or the account number
- their signature on the letter
Change of account PIP is paid into
The DWP requires full details of the name and address of the new bank or building society, along with details of the new account, including the name of the account, the account number and the sort code or roll number.
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Change of person acting for the claimant
This refers to an appointee or someone with power of attorney for the claimant. This change is important so the DWP can make payments to the correct person at the right time.
They need the full name, address and contact details of the new person who is acting for the claimant. If the person acting for the claimant has moved or has different contact details, the DWP just needs the new details.
Change of address
Provided it’s not a hospital or nursing home, this change won’t impact the eligibility or payment of PIP. It’s crucial that the DWP has the most current details for the claimant. The DWP requires comprehensive information about the new address the claimant has relocated to, including the postcode and the date of the move.
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Change of doctor or healthcare professional
This alteration will not affect the payment or eligibility for PIP and is not obligatory once a decision on the PIP claim has been reached.
However, if the change occurs during the claiming stage, it’s vital that the DWP possesses the most recent information. This ensures that the assessment provider has the correct contact details to collect any additional details they might need.
The DWP needs the full name, address, and contact details of the new doctor or health care professional. Complete details about changes of circumstance if you are receiving PIP can be found in the online handbook here.
