Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payments (PIP) claimants could be putting at risk their benefit payments by going abroad – and this includes ‘past holidays’.
Those on these benefits must notify the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) about any trips outside the UK, a process that now includes declaring “any past, present or future visits” to foreign countries.
Claimants are obliged to report to the DWP when they make a trip, and this includes declaring “any past, present or future visits” to countries outside Britain.
Recipients are allowed to take trips overseas for up to one month, but they have to reside in the UK for at least a month between such journeys.
You may be to have another month away in the event of a close relative’s death overseas, if it is unreasonable for you to return earlier.
People having medical treatment or spending time recovering for an illness can have six months away. But if you fail to meet the specified conditions, your Universal Credit could fall to zero for the next payment cycle.
Advice from the DWP states: “You need to report changes as soon as they happen. Any delay may mean you receive too much money and will have to make a repayment.
“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.”
People on PIP, Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance must inform the DWP if they are planning a trip away for four weeks or longer.
But under usual circumstances, you can still receive these benefits for up to 13 weeks whilst abroad.
This period can also be extende up to 26 weeks of you are traveling abroad for medical treatments.
The standard allowance for Universal Credit is currently:
- Single under 25: £311.68 (up from £292.11 per month)
- Single 25 or over: £393.45 (up from £368.74 per month)
- Joint claimants both under 25: £489.23 (up from £458.51 per month)
- Joint claimants, one or both 25 or over: £617.60 (up from £578.82 per month)
