Don’t Ignore This – Why DWP Claimants Could Face A £50 Penalty

DWP Claimants: If you get a benefit from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in the UK, it is really important to stay on top of your situation. If your life changes and you don’t tell them, you could lose money, stop getting benefits, or even get hit with a £50 penalty.

In this article, we’ll explain what kinds of changes you must report, how you report them, and what the rules are — all in simple language so you understand exactly what to do.

What changes must you report?

Here is a table showing common life changes you need to report to DWP:

Change in your life	Must you report it?
Your name or gender changes	Yes
Someone you live with dies	Yes
You start or stop study/training/apprenticeship	Yes
Your pension, savings or property changes	Yes
You find a job or change working hours	Yes
Your income goes up or down	Yes
You receive other money (student loans, grants etc.)	Yes
Your health or disability situation changes	Yes
You change doctor	Yes
You start or end a civil partnership/marriage/divorce	Yes
You have a baby	Yes
Benefits anyone in your household gets change	Yes
You start or stop caring for someone	Yes
You plan to go abroad	Yes
You move house or people move in/out of your home	Yes
You go into hospital, care home or sheltered accommodation	Yes
For Child Benefit: your child’s circumstances change	Yes

You must report all these changes. It doesn’t matter if you think they’re small — what matters is that you keep DWP informed.

How to report a change to DWP

The process depends on which benefit you get. Here’s a simple guide:

For specific benefits

• Universal Credit: Use your online account or call the helpline.
• Housing Benefit: Report to your local council.
• Attendance Allowance: Call the Attendance Allowance helpline.
• Carer’s Allowance: Report online or call the Carer’s Allowance Unit.
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA) / Personal Independence Payment (PIP): Call the Disability Service Centre.
• Pension Credit: Call the Pension Service helpline or send changes by post.
• Child Benefit: Use the online Child Benefit service, or call/write to their office.
• Any other benefit: Call Jobcentre Plus and have your National Insurance number handy.

Important tip

If you receive more than one benefit, you need to report the change to each department separately. Simply telling one office does not cover all your benefits.

Why this rule exists

The reason for this rule is simple: DWP must make sure benefit payments are correct. If your circumstances change and you don’t tell them:

• You might get paid more than you should.
• They will try to get back the extra money you weren’t entitled to.
• They impose a £50 charge for some cases where you fail to report or make a mistake.
• If you hide a change on purpose, this becomes a kind of fraud.

What you should do right now

1. Review your current benefit claim and ask: “Have I had any life change recently that I haven’t reported?”
2. Make a list of any changes: working hours, income, health, moving house etc.
3. Use the right method (online, phone, post) for your benefit to report those changes as soon as possible.
4. Keep a copy of any correspondence or a note of calls so you have proof of reporting the change — this could help if you’re later asked about it.

If you are a benefit claimant with DWP, staying honest and up‐to‐date is very important. Any change in your life — whether big or small — should be reported without delay. Failing to do so can lead to your benefits being reduced, stopped, or you being charged £50.

It could also lead to you having to pay back money or even being treated for fraud. Reporting changes is simple, and doing it early can save you stress and money. Don’t wait — check your circumstances now and make sure everything is correct.

FAQs