Universal Credit claimants urged to check these DWP rules before booking a holiday this summer

They are not complicated, but ignoring them could cause unnecessary disruption to payments at the worst possible time.

Here is what every claimant needs to know before booking.

What are the DWP rules for going abroad on Universal Credit?

The key rule is that claimants can leave the UK for up to one month without it affecting their Universal Credit claim.

But the DWP must be told before travelling. This is done by reporting a change of circumstance through an online journal or by contacting the Universal Credit helpline.

It is a simple step but an important one — failing to notify the DWP could cause issues with payments even if the trip itself falls within the permitted period.

What might surprise many people is that going abroad does not mean the claimant commitment can be paused.

The obligations that apply at home continue to apply while away. For those in the intensive work search group, that means continuing to look for work for up to 35 hours a week even while on holiday.

It is worth checking what a claimant commitment requires before booking, particularly for longer trips.

There are exceptions worth knowing about. Claimants travelling abroad specifically for medical treatment, or to care for a partner or child receiving medical treatment, are permitted to stay away for up to six months rather than the standard one month.

And if a close relative passes away while a claimant is abroad and it would not be reasonable to return immediately, one additional month outside the UK is permitted. Neither exception applies automatically and the DWP should be informed of the circumstances in both cases.

For anyone planning to travel beyond the one month limit without an applicable exception, the risk to the claim is real.

Overstaying without notifying the DWP or without a valid reason could result in payments being stopped, and a new claim would need to be made on return, meaning the standard five week wait for the first payment would apply again.

What to do before you travel

The steps are straightforward. Notify the DWP of travel plans before departing, either through the online journal or via the Universal Credit helpline.

Check the claimant commitment carefully to understand exactly what is required while abroad.

If the trip is for medical reasons or involves a bereavement exception, keep relevant documentation to hand. And make sure the total time away does not exceed one month unless a specific exception applies.

A spokesperson for financial aid experts Vettory said: "Summer holidays are a time most people look forward to, and knowing the rules around Universal Credit and travel means there is nothing standing in the way of enjoying one.

"A quick notification to the DWP before travelling and a check of the claimant commitment is all it takes.

"It is also worth keeping a note of the date you leave and the date you plan to return, just to make sure the trip stays within the one month limit.

"Getting everything sorted before booking rather than after means the whole thing is far less stressful."