Little known DWP rule means PIP payments may be stopped if you go on holiday

Personal Independence Payments (PIP) claimants may risk losing money if they don't mention they’re going on holiday.

Benefit claimants who receive PIP must notify the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) if they are planning to go abroad for four weeks or more. Official guidance states a temporary absence abroad for up to 13 weeks may be allowed, or up to 26 weeks for medical treatment, reports the Mirror.

Anything above this amount could affect your benefit payments. The DWP guidance 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.”