Changes that can affect your personal independence payment

You need to tell DWP about any changes to your health or personal circumstances to make sure you’re still getting paid the right amount. 

Your PIP award may change, depending on your new circumstances.

You’ll need to let DWP know about changes to your personal details. Tell them about any changes to your:

• name (you’ll need to do this in writing)
• address
• doctor
• bank details

You’ll also need to tell DWP if:

• your condition gets better or becomes worse, including if you’re not expected to live longer than 12 months
• you need a different amount of help or care
• you go into a hospital, hospice, care or nursing home 
• you leave the country for more than four weeks
• you’re sent to prison or are being held in legal custody
• you go into a residential school or college
• your immigration status changes and you’re not a British or Irish citizen
• you, your husband, wife, civil partner or parent you depend on start or stop getting benefits (including pensions) from an EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

These can all affect the amount of PIP you’ll get.

You don’t need to tell DWP about changes to:

• your job
• your income or earnings
• the number of people living with you

These things won’t change the amount of PIP you’ll get.

Tell DWP about any changes by writing to them or calling the freephone PIP enquiry line (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm):

• telephone: 0800 121 4433
• textphone: 0800 121 4493
• Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 121 4433
• British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service if you’re on a computer - find out how to use the service on mobile or tablet

Remember to give:

• your full name 
• date of birth
• national insurance number
• what the change is
• when the change happened 

If you’ve changed your name, you’ll need to write to DWP using the address on your decision letter.

Can someone else tell DWP about my changes?

Someone else can phone DWP for you but you’ll need to be with them to give permission for them to speak on your behalf.

DWP will write to you and let you know how your PIP claim is affected. Your money might go up, down or stay the same.

They might end your claim if they think you no longer need PIP or they might decide to reassess you.

A reassessment can be called for at any time, even if you’re given PIP for a fixed period. 

Your claim will usually be reviewed a year before it’s due to end.

DWP will send you a letter with a review form.

You’ve got four weeks to fill it in and send it back, but you can ask for longer if you need it, just ring up to explain why.

If you don’t send the review form back in time, your PIP claim will be stopped unless you have a good reason for sending it in late. 

If DWP don’t think you have a good reason, you can either appeal or start a new claim.