UC/PIP worries ?!

[AnxiousTea]

Hi everyone,
apologies if this makes me sound silly.

My partner and I receive Universal Credit and he also receives PIP.
We moved house 2x (once during the first lockdown and again last year) and I updated all the details via Universal Credit under “change of circumstances” etc.
(It falls on me to see to all the paperwork etc that we get etc on top of endless hospital visits for my partner, having 2 dogs and going to work as well.)
Today, whilst putting some stuff in the loft I found an envelope from when he got his pip award, and it says that if a change of circumstances isn’t submitted etc he’ll have to pay it back or go to court etc.
I’m now in panic mode as I can’t believe I let this slip my mind, I’m worried that because I didn’t update it directly with pip there will be problems.
Please can anyone provide me with some piece of mind that given that I updated said details with Universal Credit (DWP) that it’s all linked meaning because I updated through UC account, it’s updated PIP and I won’t come in to any issues??

Changing your address won't affect the amount of PIP your partner received so isn't usually something they'd fine you for or ask you to repay PIP for, this rule generally refers to things like a change in needs, moving into residential care, a death, etc. Just give them a ring and update the address, it'll be fine.

Okay, thank you!!
I’m sorry, I’ve never had to deal with all this before and have no one to go to for advice. Am just really anxious since the first house move happened in 2020.

@Hospedia do you think it’ll be okay?? I’m so worried about getting into trouble for not updating it in 2020.

I really don't think you should worry too much about this. You can explain how stressful things have been and that you have only just found the letter. The main changes you are expected to notify about would be a deterioration in health or an improvement.

It won't cause any problems. The only issue could be if they do not have the correct address for you and they needed to send him PIP renewal forms. It is more important to report any changes in his health conditions, as this could affect levels of payments. I would give them a ring tomorrow so that they have the correct address. The problem would be if they sent him a re-assessment/ renewal form and he did not return it because it went to the wrong address they could think he did not want to claim any more and payments would eventually stop. They do usually send a text to prompt you to return a form though so you would have had one of these if they had sent a form out.

I would also add that I have rung PIP before on behalf of clients for my work and not been able to get past security checks many times because the address I have given them has not been updated with their records because the client has forgotten to up date. All they have asked is that the client rings them asap with the new address. I have never known clients get into any trouble for failing to do this.