UK DWP revises disability benefits rules and eligibility criteria

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has released several updates affecting disability benefits. It published a full list of 48 health conditions that qualify people over state‑pension age for Attendance Allowance, a benefit that can provide up to £458.40 a month. A separate list identifies eight infectious diseases, such as COVID‑19 and HIV/AIDS, that can make claimants eligible for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) worth up to £458 a month.

The DWP also reminded PIP claimants that travel abroad for more than four weeks must be reported; failure to do so can lead to fines or a suspension of payments. Claimants may continue to receive PIP for up to 13 weeks abroad, or 26 weeks for medical treatment.

In addition, the agency announced a programme to reassess about 150,000 Disability Living Allowance recipients from September, moving them onto PIP after a test phase with 3,000 claimants. Those who do not start a PIP claim within four weeks after notification will see their DLA payments stopped.