{"id":195252,"date":"2025-06-18T20:08:09","date_gmt":"2025-06-18T20:08:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/195252\/"},"modified":"2025-06-18T20:08:09","modified_gmt":"2025-06-18T20:08:09","slug":"dwp-alert-as-brits-going-on-holiday-could-have-payments-paused-personal-finance-finance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/195252\/","title":{"rendered":"DWP alert as Brits going on holiday could have payments paused | Personal Finance | Finance"},"content":{"rendered":"

Benefit<\/a> claimants heading abroad for a holiday are warned that their payments may be paused if they don\u2019t inform the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP<\/a>).<\/p>\n

The rules vary depending on the benefit you claim, making it vital to check this before embarking on any trips away. The reason for leaving and the length of the trip are all factors that can influence the decision the DWP<\/a> makes when – and if – it needs to adapt payments. Here\u2019s a rundown of the travel rules for benefits, such as Pension Credit, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), and Universal Credit, that people should be aware of.<\/p>\n

Pension Credit<\/strong><\/p>\n

People claiming Pension Credit must inform the DWP<\/a> before they head abroad for any length of time.<\/p>\n

Guidance for Pension Credit claimants on GOV.UK<\/a> says this applies if you\u2019re going to leave Great Britain for any reason at all, even if you\u2019ll only be away for a short time. This includes if you go to Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands.<\/p>\n

The DWP<\/a> then states that it may pay Pension Credit for up to four weeks while you\u2019re temporarily away from Great Britain, rising up to eight weeks if the absence is in connection with a death.<\/p>\n

If the absence is solely in connection with medical treatment or medically approved convalescence, the DWP<\/a> said it may pay Pension Credit for up to 26 weeks.<\/p>\n

To report this, claimants are advised to contact the Pension Service Helpline on 0800 731 0469.<\/p>\n

Universal Credit<\/strong><\/p>\n

Eligible Universal Credit<\/a> claimants can continue receiving Universal Credit for one month if they go abroad.<\/p>\n

To continue receiving your payments, you must be eligible for Universal Credit<\/a> when you go abroad, remain eligible for it while you\u2019re abroad, and tell your work coach that you\u2019re going.<\/p>\n

Like Pension Credit, you may be able to continue receiving your payments for longer in certain circumstances. According to Government guidance, Universal Credit claimants may be able to receive another month\u2019s worth of payments if a close relative dies while they\u2019re abroad, and it would not be reasonable for them to come back to the UK.<\/p>\n

You may also get Universal Credit for up to six months if you go abroad for medical treatment; you go abroad for a period of recovery that\u2019s been approved by a medical professional; or your partner or child is going abroad for medical treatment or recovery, and you\u2019re going with them.<\/p>\n

PIP<\/strong>, Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, and Carer\u2019s Allowance<\/strong><\/p>\n

People claiming disability benefits, such as PIP<\/a>, Attendance Allowance<\/a>, and Disability Living Allowance, only need to let the office that pays their benefit know if they plan to go abroad for more than four weeks.<\/p>\n

When abroad, people can continue to claim these benefits for up to 13 weeks, or 26 weeks if it\u2019s for medical treatment.<\/p>\n

Carer\u2019s Allowance claimants can carry on claiming if they take up to four weeks’ holiday out of a 26-week period.<\/p>\n

Jobseekers allowance<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are two different types of Jobseeker\u2019s Allowance (JSA): New Style JSA, and income-based JSA.<\/p>\n

You cannot get income-based JSA abroad. However, you may get the New Style JSA in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland<\/a> for up to three months if you:<\/p>\n