Holiday mistakes could mean people are committing benefit fraud

Your benefits could be stopped or reduced as you’re forced to pay back sums

Benefit recipients planning a holiday abroad this summer must take three crucial steps before departure. Failure to do so could lead the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to view their trip as an intentional act of fraud.

Firstly, you need to notify the office that handles your benefit. This could be the pension service, Jobcentre or your work coach, and you'll likely need to provide details of your departure date, destination, and expected return date. You may also need to justify your reason for travel, for instance, travelling overseas for medical treatment often allows more flexibility in continuing to claim benefits.

This is necessary even if you're only going abroad for a brief visit. Some benefits may be suspended during your absence, while others will continue to be paid as usual.

Secondly, if anything occurs while you're away that could impact your eligibility for benefits, you must report it as a change of circumstances to the DWP, just as you would if you were at home. This could include purchasing property, working, or claiming a pension or other benefits in another country.

Lastly, if a benefit claimant passes away while abroad, the DWP must be notified immediately, and claims for pensions or benefits on behalf of the deceased must not continue to be claimed. Failing to adhere to these three rules could be considered benefit fraud.

You might also need to fulfil certain conditions while you're overseas to continue claiming your benefit legitimately, although this will depend on the type of benefit you receive. For example, if you're receiving New-Style Jobseeker's Allowance, you must have registered at least four weeks before your trip commences.

You'll also need to be actively seeking employment up until the day you depart. If you're on Universal Credit, you'll need to meet the eligibility criteria for the entire duration of your holiday.

If you are incorrectly paid benefits while you are abroad, you may be required to repay the money you weren't eligible for. This is typically deducted from future benefit payments.

Certain trips may also need to be curtailed if you want to keep your benefit payments going. For example, you can only claim Universal Credit during your first month abroad, unless you're undergoing medical treatment, in which case it can continue for up to six months.

Your benefit eligibility abroad may also hinge on your destination. The following countries have social security agreements with the UK, meaning you can still claim some UK benefits if you immigrate:

• EEA countries
• Switzerland
• Barbados
• Bermuda
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Canada
• Channel Islands
• Gibraltar
• Israel
• Jamaica
• Kosovo
• Mauritius
• Montenegro
• New Zealand
• North Macedonia
• the Philippines
• Serbia
• Turkey
• US

Further information about claiming benefits abroad and benefit fraud can be found on the Gov.uk website.