Full list of benefits that could be STOPPED over simple holiday mistake including Universal Credit and PIP

THOUSANDS on benefits, including Universal Credit, should avoid a simple holiday mistake that could see their payments stopped.

It’s important that you tell the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) if you are going abroad because it could count as a change of circumstance.

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If you don’t report the change, it might mean you are paid too much and have to pay some of it back.

You might also have to pay a £50 penalty and fine worth up to £5,000 if you’re considered to have committed benefit fraud.

You could also have your benefit entitlement stopped completely.

There are limits on how long you can stay abroad and carry on receiving your benefits.

But the criteria depends on which specific benefit you are on.

This is the full list of eight benefits where you may have to report a change of circumstance if you are going away this summer:

• Universal Credit
• Jobseeker’s Allowance
• PIP
• Disability Living Allowance
• Carer’s Allowance
• Tax Credits
• Pension Credit
• Housing Benefit

Here’s everything you need to know.

Universal Credit

If you’re on Universal Credit, you can stay abroad for one month and carry on receiving payments.

You still have to tell your work coach you’re going away and have to carry on meeting the conditions of your claim.

For example, if you are in the intensive work group and have to spend a minimum amount of hours per week looking for a job, you have to continue doing this.

There are exceptions to the one-month rule though – such as if a “close relative” dies while you are abroad and it is not deemed reasonable for you to return to the UK.

Meanwhile, you can carry on claiming Universal Credit for up to six months if you have gone abroad for medical treatment.

You can report going away on holiday by signing in via your Universal Credit account.

Jobseeker’s Allowance

If you are on JSA you can go abroad for as long as two weeks and still receive the benefit, but must inform the DWP.

You also have to be actively looking for work during this two-week period.

If you go away for longer, it can result in your JSA being stopped.

You can let the Government know you are going away by calling the JSA helpline on 0800 169 0310.

You can also write to the Jobcentre Plus office that pays your JSA. You can find your nearest office by using its online branch locator.

PIP and DLA

You have to tell the DWP if you are on Personal Independence payments (PIP) Or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and going away for more than four weeks.

You have to tell the Government the date you are leaving the country, how long you are going away for and which country you plan to visit.

You also need to tell the DWP why you plan to go abroad.

You can call the Disability Service Centre on 0800 121 4433 to inform them you are going away if you are on PIP or DLA.

Carer’s Allowance

If you are on Carer’s Allowance, you can go away for up to four weeks over a six-month period while still receiving the benefit.

But you still have to report this or risk having to pay back your entitlement or paying a fine.

You can report going away via the Government’s website or by calling the Carer’s Allowance Unit on 0800 731 0297.

Tax Credits

You have to tell HMRC if you are on Tax Credits and plan to go abroad for eight weeks or more.

You have to report the changes within one month.

You can do this by contacting HMRC online or via its app, or by calling 0345 300 3900.

Pension Credit

You can claim Pension Credit for up to four weeks if you are abroad.

This is extended to eight weeks if the absence is due to the death of your partner or a child.

You can report a change in circumstances via the Government’s website or by calling the Pension Credit helpline on 0800 731 0469.

Housing Benefit

You can usually only carry on claiming Housing Benefit for up to four weeks if you go abroad.

Like with Pension Credit, you can carry on receiving it for eight weeks if you have to go abroad because a close relative has died.

You should contact the Benefits Service on 020 7364 5000 about any change in circumstances.

You might also be able to via your local council’s website. You can find your local council by using the Government’s online locator tool.

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