The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued a reminder that Pension Credit claimants must report any travel outside mainland UK, including holidays, or face having their payments stopped or reduced. The rule applies to anyone leaving England, Scotland, or Wales for any period, as stated in official guidance.
Reporting Requirements for Pension Credit Claimants
According to the DWP and the Labour Party government, Pension Credit claimants are required to notify the department of any changes in their personal and financial circumstances. This includes leaving England, Scotland, and Wales for any period, for example, going on holiday. Failure to report such changes promptly could result in the claim being stopped or reduced.
The guidance emphasizes: "You need to report changes to you and your partner's personal and financial circumstances. Your claim might be stopped or reduced if you do not report a change straight away. Some changes will increase the amount of Pension Credit you could get."
Over 1.4 Million Claimants Affected
More than 1.4 million people claim Pension Credit, and they must report a variety of changes. These include moving to a new address, starting or stopping living with a partner, the death of a partner named on the claim, starting or stopping work, going into hospital or a care home, people moving in or out of the house, changing name, switching bank accounts, and leaving England, Scotland, or Wales for any period (e.g., holidays).
Other changes that must be reported include starting or stopping looking after a child or young person under 20, changes to immigration status (if not a British citizen), and entering a care home for more than four weeks. In the latter case, claimants must also report if there is a change in how care home fees are funded, such as starting or stopping NHS or local council funding.
Additional Changes to Report
Claimants must also notify the DWP if they were staying in a care home temporarily and become a permanent resident, move to another care home, or go into hospital. Changes in income or expenses must be reported, including housing costs (e.g., ground rent, service charges), benefits received by anyone living in the home (including new benefits or stopped benefits), occupational or personal pensions (including starting a new pension or taking a lump sum), and other income such as foreign pensions, savings, investments, or property.
The DWP stresses that reporting changes promptly is crucial to avoid overpayments or underpayments. Claimants can report changes online, by phone, or by post. For more information, visit the official GOV.UK website.
