Holiday

I totally agree with Gordon. There is a world of difference between allowed to continue claiming whilst on holiday and being required to notify DWP of such an absence.

The rule about letting the DWP know where you are started for the old Incapacity Benefit, where a claimant was obliged to let the DWP where they could be found even if they were only away from home for day. This still applies to those still on IB or ESA.

However, to the best of my knowledge it doesn't include Industrial Injuries Benefit (IIB) nor
for benefits paid for disability including DLA/PIP or AA.

Bica wrote: I have checked the PIP tool kit and it says the following

A temporary absence abroad for up to 13 weeks may be allowed, or up to
26 weeks if the absence is specifically for medical treatment. The claimant
should notify DWP if they are planning to go abroad for four weeks or
more

Surely it's in black and red (in this case), four weeks or more is when you should notify the DWP.

There is no mention of just a day or three.


WD

I agree with you

Why can't they just say (DWP) "If you leave the country for more than 1 day then you
should inform your relevant claim office"
That way we would all be in the same picture.

Sorry that this has gone on and on but some things need clarifying.

Bica

From my experience you are right.

I have MS and chronic respiratory disease amongst other things, so I cannot plan ahead for holidays, we just have to do it on the spur of the moment. My wife has ME, Lupus and arthritis and we both receive DLA.

We tend to take short breaks for 3-5 days fairly close to home. When I asked the DWP if we needed to inform them when we took short breaks, they advised me that it wasn't necessary to inform them.

We are both pensioners and the only benefits we receive are DLA and State Pension. Not sure if being on any means-tested benefit has different rules about leaving home for short periods, but for DLA & SP, it's not necessary.

There are rules for DLA on letting the DWP know if you're in hospital, even for just a day.