Hi Lynn
No claimant loses their award just because they have informed the DWP of a new illness. What happens depends on what you tell them. Claimants who know that an additional illness will make no difference to their current award tend to leave it until their next review to inform the DWP, or they write or make a phone call to request that this new information be added to their records.
Some claimants believe that the new condition they have been diagnosed with will lead to an increased award, and therefore, they ask for a change of circumstances, which will automatically trigger a review. Claimants must have had the new illness for 3 months before contacting the DWP, and there is an expectation that it will last for at least 9 months after they inform the DWP. If a claimant does not meet that requirement, the DWP will ignore it.
BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems