DWP holiday travel rules for everyone who claims Universal Credit and PIP (2024)

Benefit claimants are being reminded of the rules in place for anyone who plans to go on holiday.

People who receive Universal Credit or Personal Independence Payments (PIP) must notify the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) if they are going abroad. A holiday can be for up to one month but people must stick to the requirements they agreed to when first claiming the benefit.

People in an intensive work search group, are required to spend 35-37 hours a week looking for a job - even while on holiday, reports Birmingham Live. In September 2022, changes to earnings limits meant 114,000 more claimants were moved into the intensive work search group, followed by another 120,000 in January in 2023. Below is a summary of the travel rules for benefit claimants.

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Going abroad temporarily

You can claim the following benefits if you’re going abroad for up to 13 weeks (or 26 weeks if it’s for medical treatment):

• Attendance Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for adults
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

You can carry on claiming Carer’s Allowance if you take up to four weeks holiday out of a 26-week period. Tell the office that deals with your benefit that you’ll be away.

PIP travel and holiday rules

The Government's guide to PIP states that people must inform the DWP of changes in circ*mstances. Claimants must contact the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) enquiry line if:

1. personal details change, for example their name, address or doctor
2. the help they need or their condition changes
3. a medical condition has worsened and they are not expected to live more than 12 months
4. they go into hospital or a care home
5. they go abroad
6. they are imprisoned or held in detention
7. their immigration status has changed, if they're not a British citizen

The newly updated PIP guide says: "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."

It says leaving the country or planning to do so for a period of more than four weeks - even if this is a holiday - may affect a person's entitlement to PIP. The rules state: "We need to know if the claimant’s condition, the amount of help they need or their circ*mstances 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."

Universal Credit travel and holiday rules

The Government said: "You need to report changes to your circ*mstances so you keep getting the right amount each month. 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. Changes in your circ*mstances can affect how much you're paid for your whole assessment period - not just from the date you report them."

With regards to travel, if making a new application to receive Universal Credit, you must be in Britain on the day it's submitted. It should be fine if you travel abroad later that same day, or have come back from a holiday earlier that day.

A holiday can be for up to one month but you must stick to the conditions of the claimant commitment you agreed to when first applying. That will probably include having to show evidence of looking for work - such as a list of jobs you have applied for. In a worst-case scenario, a claimant could be asked to come back home for a job interview or to start work. The Universal Credit helpline is 0800 328 5644.

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