If you’re receiving Universal Credit and planning a holiday abroad, you might be wondering how your trip could affect your claim. Many claimants have similar concerns about whether they need to notify the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and how vacations intersect with their work-related commitments.
A Universal Credit claimant recently shared their situation on Reddit, revealing they’ve booked a seven-day holiday in July but are unsure if this will interfere with their claim or scheduled appointments. They asked whether they need to report their travel plans and what happens if an appointment is scheduled during their absence.
The short answer is yes—you can take a holiday while on Universal Credit, but there are important steps to follow. You should use the ‘report a change’ feature in your Universal Credit online account to inform the DWP of your holiday dates. This helps ensure no appointments are booked during your time away and that your work coach is aware of your unavailability.
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However, it’s crucial to remember that even when abroad, you must comply with your work search and availability requirements outlined in your Claimant Commitment. This means continuing to demonstrate that you are actively searching for work and being ready to accept job offers or interview invitations. Upon returning, you may need to show evidence of your job search activities during your holiday period.
Work coaches can also adjust appointments to suit your circumstances during holiday periods, such as offering phone or video meetings instead of in-person sessions. Sanctions or penalties will only be considered if you fail to meet mandatory requirements without a valid reason.
A DWP spokesperson clarified, “Universal Credit claimants are allowed to go abroad for up to a month and should inform the department of any period they are out of the country. Claimants are still expected to comply with work-related requirements, including being available for work and attending interviews where appropriate.”
In summary, taking a short holiday while claiming Universal Credit is possible, provided you keep the DWP informed and continue meeting your work-related responsibilities.