PIP Claimant Responsibilities and Reporting Changes 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: If a PIP claimant is convicted of a criminal offence and sent to prison, what must they do?
- Nothing — PIP continues automatically during imprisonment
- Report the imprisonment to DWP (Correct answer)
- Apply for a brand new PIP claim upon release
- Transfer their PIP to a family member
Correct answer: Report the imprisonment to DWP
Imprisonment is a change in circumstances that must be reported to DWP, as PIP payments are generally suspended after four weeks in custody.
Question 2: What is the correct term for PIP payments received that the claimant was not entitled to?
- Surplus benefit
- Excess claim
- Overpayment (Correct answer)
- Windfall payment
Correct answer: Overpayment
An overpayment is the standard DWP term for any amount of benefit paid beyond what the claimant was legally entitled to receive.
Question 3: A PIP claimant moves permanently into a care home funded by the local authority. After how many days will their daily living component generally be suspended?
- 14 days
- 21 days
- 28 days (Correct answer)
- 84 days
Correct answer: 28 days
As with hospital stays, the daily living component is suspended after 28 days in a local authority-funded care home because the state is covering care costs.
Question 4: If a PIP claimant's needs increase significantly due to their condition worsening, what action should they take?
- Wait for their next scheduled review
- Apply for a completely new PIP claim
- Report the change to DWP, who may reassess their award (Correct answer)
- Contact their local council for additional support only
Correct answer: Report the change to DWP, who may reassess their award
Claimants must report worsening conditions to DWP, which can trigger a reassessment and potentially a higher award if the new level of need meets the criteria.
Question 5: When reporting a change in circumstances, which contact method does DWP primarily provide for PIP claimants?
- Only in person at the local Jobcentre
- Only by recorded post
- The PIP enquiry line (telephone) (Correct answer)
- Only through a registered benefits advisor
Correct answer: The PIP enquiry line (telephone)
The PIP enquiry line is DWP's primary telephone contact point for claimants to report changes, though written correspondence is also accepted.
Question 6: How does DWP classify deliberately failing to report a change that results in receiving more PIP than entitled?
- An administrative error
- Benefit fraud (Correct answer)
- An honest mistake
- A processing delay
Correct answer: Benefit fraud
Knowingly failing to report a change to receive money you are not entitled to constitutes benefit fraud, which can lead to prosecution and a penalty.
Question 7: A PIP claimant is going on holiday abroad for 10 weeks. Which statement is correct regarding their PIP?
- They must stop their PIP claim before leaving Great Britain
- They can continue to receive PIP for up to 13 weeks abroad (Correct answer)
- PIP stops immediately upon leaving Great Britain
- They need to reapply for PIP upon returning
Correct answer: They can continue to receive PIP for up to 13 weeks abroad
Temporary absences abroad of up to 13 weeks do not interrupt PIP, so a 10-week holiday falls within the permitted period and payments continue.
PIP Claimant Responsibilities and Reporting Changes 2
If a PIP claimant is convicted of a criminal offence and sent to prison, what must they do?