The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is under increasing pressure to reassess Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims for more than 2,200 individuals currently living abroad. Recent figures reveal that 2,244 claimants continue to receive PIP while residing in countries including Spain, Italy, Portugal, and France.
This number marks an 86% increase from before the Covid-19 pandemic, when 1,203 expatriates were registered for disability support. Among these overseas claimants, 414 receive aid for psychiatric disorders, 1,001 for musculoskeletal conditions, 60 for respiratory ailments, and 79 for sensory impairments such as hearing and visual disorders.
Sir Iain Duncan Smith, former Conservative Party leader, highlighted concerns to The Sun: “These claims need to be reviewed, and the Government must consider reforms. Choosing to live and work abroad while receiving PIP — a non-work-related benefit — can result in individuals earning substantial incomes alongside claiming disability payments.”
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He added, “While this issue was less pronounced before the pandemic, the rise in such cases is significant.”
A DWP spokesperson responded by emphasizing that only a very small proportion of PIP recipients live abroad. They noted ongoing efforts to improve the welfare system through initiatives like the Timms Review, aiming to ensure PIP is fair and sustainable for both disabled people and taxpayers.
According to DWP regulations, eligibility for claiming benefits abroad can depend on working in the UK, paying National Insurance contributions, or having previously qualified for contribution-based benefits. Additionally, claimants or their family members may qualify if they receive certain UK benefits such as the State Pension or Industrial Injuries Benefit, or are covered under the Withdrawal Agreement following Brexit.
To claim benefits like PIP, Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for adults, Attendance Allowance, or Carer’s Allowance while living abroad, individuals must be habitually resident in an EEA country or Switzerland and maintain a genuine link with the UK, such as previous residence or work history. Those unsure about their status or wishing to transfer claims between PIP and Adult Disability Payment should contact the relevant support centres, including Social Security Scotland.