DWP benefits ‘termination’ alert as 20 changes must be reported | Personal Finance | Finance

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) supports around 23.7 million people with benefits across the UK, but a significant number might be unaware of their duty to declare any changes in circumstances to keep receiving the right assistance.

Failure to promptly notify the DWP of any changes could result in a suspension, termination, or reduction of their claim. The official advice is unambiguous: “If you do not report a change or a mistake, you might be paid too much. If you are, you might have to pay some of the money back. You might also have to pay a £50 penalty.”

Additionally, the department underscores: “If you deliberately do not report changes, you’re committing benefit fraud.” Furthermore, it states: “If you claim Child Benefit you also need to report changes to your child’s circumstances.”

Changes that must be reported

1. changes to your pension, savings, investments or property
2. starting or stopping caring for someone
3. the death of your partner or someone you live with
4. changing your doctor
5. changing your name or gender
6. changes to your immigration status, if you’re not a British citizen
7. people moving into or out of the place you live (for example your partner, a child or lodger)
8. starting or stopping education, training or an apprenticeship
9. changes to other money you get (for example student loans or grants, sick pay or money you get from a charity)
10. getting married or divorced
11. going into hospital, a care home or sheltered accommodation
12. moving house
13. any changes to your medical condition or disability
14. your income going up or down
15. changes to the benefits you or anyone else in your house gets
16. finding or finishing a job, or working different hours
17. having a baby
18. planning to go abroad for any length of time
19. starting or ending a civil partnership
20. You or your partner getting back-pay (sometimes called ‘arrears’) for salary or earnings you’re owed

How to inform about a death

To report the passing of someone who was receiving State Pension or other benefits, the ‘Tell Us Once’ service can be utilised – more information is available here.

Procedure for reporting a change

You should generally reach out to the specific department that manages and provides your benefit to report a change. It’s crucial to note that if you receive multiple benefits, each department must be informed separately about any alterations, reports the Daily Record.

• All other benefits – Report changes by calling Jobcentre Plus, you will need to have your National Insurance number when you call
• Disability benefits – Call the Disability Service Centre to report changes if you get Disability Living Allowance (DLA), or Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Attendance Allowance – Call the Attendance Allowance helpline
• Pension Credit – Call the Pension Service helpline or report changes by post
• Universal Credit – Report changes using your Universal Credit online account if you have one or contact the Universal Credit helpline
• Carer’s Allowance – Report a change online or call the Carer’s Allowance Unit
• Child Benefit – Report changes using the Child Benefit online service or call or
• write to the Child Benefit Office
• Housing Benefit – Report a change to your local council

Comprehensive information with direct links to each department is accessible on GOV.UK here. When touching upon the topic of benefits, DWP Transformation Minister Andrew Western voiced his amazement at the “staggering” figure that shows over £9 billion in benefit overpayments has occurred because of fraud and error.

Meanwhile, the DWP’s fresh statistics reveal that approximately £1.2 billion in benefits were underpaid over the same period.

Fraud accounted for a substantial £6.5 billion of the total overpayments for the year ending in March, marking a decline from the £7.3 billion reported in the previous year.

Overpayment errors caused by claimant mistakes have risen, resulting in a jump to £1.9 billion, up from £1.6 billion last year, while overpayments due to official errors edged up to £1 billion from £0.8 billion.

The DWP cites inaccurate income reporting as the leading reason for fraudulent overpayments, followed by not declaring living with a partner, and misreporting financial assets or capital.

About £1.1 billion has been recouped by the Department from the overpaid amount this past year, which includes recovering £0.4 billion each from Housing Benefit and Universal Credit.

In his statement alongside these numbers late last week, Mr Western said: “This Government made a manifesto commitment that it will safeguard taxpayers’ money and not tolerate fraud or waste anywhere in public services.

“With welfare benefits paid to around 24 million people, the welfare system is a deliberate target for both organised crime groups and opportunistic individuals and it is vital that the Government continues to robustly tackle fraud to ensure support goes to those who need it most.

“We are taking further steps to minimise error, ensuring the right people are paid the right amount at the right time.”