DWP warning for anyone on Universal Credit going on holiday

While the start of a new year might be a great time to get away from the cold weather and visit a hotter country, some benefit claimants will need to be careful.

Claimants who receive payments from Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) must always tell the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) if there are any substantial changes to their circumstances. What some may be unaware of though is that this includes going abroad.

According to benefit rules, a holiday can last for up to one month. However, claimants must stick to the requirements which they agreed to when first signing up for benefits.

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The Government said: "You need to report changes to your circumstances 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 circumstances can affect how much you're paid for your whole assessment period - not just from the date you report them."

If a claimant makes a new application for Universal Credit, they must be in the confines of the UK the day it is submitted. However, it should be fine to travel abroad later that same day or have returned from a holiday earlier that day.

Some conditions you may have agreed to when signing up for Universal Credit include providing evidence that you are looking for work. A claimant may also be asked to come back home for a job interview or to start work.

Some changes in circumstances the DWP needs to be aware of include having a child, moving in with a partner or to a new address, leaving a job, being too sick to work or meet a work coach,