Brits on Universal Credit have been given an urgent warning ahead of any holidays. Claimants are being reminded you need to report your trip to the Department for Work and Pensions ahead of time.

Failure to do so could even land you with a hefty fine of between £350 and £5,000 if you don’t report your holiday as a change of circumstance. If you are on Universal Credit then you can stay abroad for a month and still receive your payments.

You’re committing benefit fraud if you do not tell the office that pays your benefit that you’re going abroad, even if it’s just for a visit. This could also apply if you deliberately do not report a change in your circumstances while abroad, like buying a property, working, or claiming a pension or benefit from another country.

Fraud also includes being dishonest in order to get benefits, like continuing to claim the pension or benefit of someone who has died overseas.

The warning stipulates that, if you’re in the intensive work search group, you’d still be expected to spend a certain number of hours looking for a job even when you’re away.

Exceptions include travelling for medical treatment, which means you are able to stay abroad for up to six months without losing support. There are also special allowances that may apply if a close family member passes away.

You’ll usually need to provide evidence and the DWP must agree to it in advance, the benefits department says. And remember, there are different holiday rules for different benefits.

Claimants on, for example, Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Attendance Allowance can claim their benefits for up to 13 weeks. Those on income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance cannot claim this abroad.

If your benefits have been reduced, stopped or you’ve been fined, you can ask for the decision to be looked at again. This is called a mandatory reconsideration, and you’ve got one month from the date of the decision to make your request. You can do this either by using your universal credit journal or calling the helpline on 0800 328 4433.

Some countries have social security arrrangements with the UK, which mean Brits can still recieve their benefits while abroad. These include Barbados, Canada, Mauritius, New Zealand, the Philippines, and the USA.

To alert the Department for Work and Pensions, you can update your online journal, call the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644 or speak to your local Jobcentre Plus.