A new online petition is calling on the UK Government to change the current travel rules for people in receipt of Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Guidance from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) states PIP claimants leaving the UK or planning to leave for a period of more than four weeks, even for just a holiday, may see their benefit entitlement affected.
Petition creator, Angela Hamilton, claims the guidance on two separate pages of GOV.UK - the PIP online Handbook and changes in circumstances section of the PIP microsite - give conflicting information and are “inconsistent”. Ms Hamilton said “disabled people should have the same right to travel abroad as non-disabled people” adding that “travel like this does not change a person's care or mobility needs”.
The ‘'Amend guidance for PIP claimants on advising the DWP of travel abroad’ petition, posted on the official petitions parliament website, also highlights that people claiming Tax Credits only need to notify HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) about travel abroad if it will last longer than eight weeks, reports the Daily Record.
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The petitions states: “The PIP handbook says claimants should notify the DWP if they are planning to go abroad for 4 weeks or more, but the guidance on changes of circumstances says ‘You must contact the PIP enquiry line if [...] you go abroad’.
“This is inconsistent. Both pages should refer to travel of over four weeks.
“Disabled people should have the same right to travel abroad for holidays, work, family and other reasons as non-disabled people. Travel like this does not change a person's care or mobility needs.
“Disabled people shouldn't have to inform the DWP of travel abroad lasting under four weeks. People on tax credits only need to notify travel abroad of over 8 weeks. This is less favourable treatment of disabled people and we believe is discriminatory.”
The petition will close on November 15, 2023. At 10,000 signatures the UK Government will respond and at 100,000 it would be considered for debate in Parliament. You can view the petition here.
Guidance in the 2023/24 edition of the PIP Handbook on GOV.UK states: “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.”
If you’re planning on enjoying an extended holiday this summer, make sure you contact the DWP with the details they have asked for as soon as possible - and keep it in mind when booking.
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