NI PIP Handbook - Changes in circumstances

We need to know if the claimant’s condition, the amount of help they need or their circumstances change. This is because it may change how much PIP they can get.

It is important the claimant tells us straightaway about any changes in their life that could affect their benefit. Based on these changes their benefit may go up, go down, stay the same or it may stop. If the claimant is overpaid, they will normally have to repay the money. Failure to tell us about any of these changes may result in prosecution.

Changes the claimant needs to report

Changes to daily living or mobility needs

The claimant should tell us if, for example, they need more or less help or support or the condition will last for a longer or shorter time than the claimant has previously told us about.

This change may affect entitlement to PIP. The amount and the period of the PIP award may change.

Admission to a hospital, care home or hospice,entry into a residential school or college, entry into foster care, sheltered housing or Health Trust care

These changes may affect the amount of PIP that can be paid to the claimant.

PIP need to know the name and address of the place the claimant has gone into, and the date they went in. We need this information as soon as they go in. Failure to tell us this straightaway could result in an overpayment. We also need to know if the claimant spends any nights at home and the date the claimant comes out of this place as soon as this happens. This is because we may be able to pay PIP for any nights spent at home and as soon as they come out of this place.

Hospitals or similar institutions

Both parts of PIP cease to be payable 28 days after the claimant is admitted to a National Health Service hospital. Privately funded patients are unaffected by these rules and can continue to be paid either component of PIP.

If a claimant is in hospital or a similar institution at the date entitlement to PIP starts, PIP is not payable until they are discharged.

Care Homes

The Daily Living part of PIP ceases to be payable after 28 days of residency in care home where the costs of the accommodation are met from public or local funds.

PIP Mobility component can continue to be paid. People who fully self-fund their placement are unaffected by these rules. If a claimant is in a care home at the date of entitlement, PIP Daily Living component is not payable until they leave.

Linked spells in hospital and a care home

Spells in hospital are linked if the gap between them is no more than 28 days. The Daily Living component for spells in a care home is also linked if the gap between them is no more than 28 days. There is no link for the Mobility component because payment is not affected when in a care home.

Both components of PIP will stop being paid after a total of 28 days in hospital. The Daily Living component of PIP will stop being paid after a total of 28 days in a care home. If a claimant moves between a hospital and care home or vice versa, these periods will also link.

Leaving the country or planning to leave the country for a period of more than four weeks even if this is a holiday

This change may affect the claimant’s entitlement to PIP. We will need to know the date the claimant is leaving the country, how long they are planning to be out of the country, which country they are going to and why they are going abroad.

Change of name

This change will not affect payment or eligibility for PIP, but it is important that we have the most up-to-date details for the claimant.

This change needs to be reported in writing – if the claimant phones to give these details, the PIP Case Worker will ask for these details to be put in writing. The written notification must contain:  

• full details of their previous name
• their new name
• details of any changes made to the bank or building society account into which PIP is paid such as the name of the account or the account number and the letter must be signed by the claimant.

Change of account PIP is paid into

We need full details of the name and address of the new bank or building society along with details of the new account including the name of the account, the account number and the sort code or roll number.

Change of person acting for the claimant, by this we mean an appointee or someone with power of attorney for the claimant

This change is important so that we can make payments to the right person at the right time. We need the full name, address and contact details of the new person who is acting for the claimant. If the person acting for the claimant has moved or has different contact details, we just need the new details.

Change of address

This change, providing it is not a hospital or nursing home will not affect eligibility or payment of PIP. It is important that we hold the most up-to-date details for the claimant.

We need full details of the new address the claimant has moved to, including the postcode and the date that they moved.

Change of doctor or health professional

This change will not affect payment or eligibility for PIP and is not mandatory once a decision on the PIP claim has been made. However, if the change happens during the claiming stage it is essential that we have the most up-to- date information. This will make sure the Assessment Provider has the right contact details to gather any further information or evidence they may require. We need the full name, address and contact details of the new doctor or health professional.

Imprisonment or claimant held in legal custody

This change may affect the amount of PIP that can be paid to the claimant.

We need to know the date the claimant was taken into prison or legal custody and the length of time they are expected to be there if known.

Detained in legal custody

PIP ceases to be payable after 28 days where someone is being detained in legal custody. This applies whether the offence is civil or criminal and whether they have been convicted or are on remand.

Suspended payments of benefit are not refunded regardless of the outcome of proceedings against the individual. Two or more separate periods in legal custody link if they are within one year of each other.