DWP Change of Address: How to Update Your Details
How to update your address with every benefit the Department for Work and Pensions administers.
Table of Contents
Why You Need to Update Your Address with the DWP
The Department for Work and Pensions is the UK’s largest government department. It administers Universal Credit, the State Pension, Pension Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Disability Living Allowance, and several other benefits, each through its own team with its own contact route. If your address is out of date with any of them, three things can go wrong.
Letters can miss you. Decision letters, review notices, and requests for further information are sent by post. A letter sent to your old address is a deadline you never see.
Payments can be affected. Some benefits, Universal Credit in particular, are reassessed when your circumstances change, and a move counts as a change in circumstances. An outdated address means the DWP is working from incomplete information.
You stay compliant. Reporting a change of address is a legal requirement, not a courtesy, covered in the next section.
Once your DWP records are updated, SlothMove can help with everything else your move involves. As a home address updating service, we notify HMRC, DVLA, the NHS, your council, and your utility providers in one go.
Your Legal Obligation to Report a Change of Address
You are legally required to tell the DWP about any change in your circumstances, and a change of address counts as one. This applies whether you receive Universal Credit, a disability benefit, or a pension.
The DWP cross-references its records against HMRC, the Land Registry, and other government databases, so an unreported move is increasingly likely to be picked up. Reporting promptly protects you from the consequences set out later in this guide, including repayment demands and civil penalties.
What Information You'll Need
Whichever benefit you’re updating, and whichever method you use, have the following ready before you contact the DWP:
- Your National Insurance number
- Your full name as it appears on DWP correspondence
- Your old address
- Your new address and postcode
- The date you moved
- Your claim reference number, for benefits that use one (found on any letter from that department)
The DWP can only process an address change once you have actually moved. Wait until your moving date has passed before you contact them.
How to Update Your Address, by Benefit
The DWP does not have a single change-of-address system. Each benefit is administered separately, so the number you need depends on what you claim. Here is the correct route for each.
Universal Credit
Report your move through your online Universal Credit journal, which the DWP treats as your primary channel for this benefit. If you need to speak to someone, call the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. A written journal entry is worth adding even after a call, so there is a record of what was reported and when.
State Pension
State Pension is administered by the Pension Service. Call 0800 731 0469, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, or write to the postal address given below. A Welsh-language line is available on 0800 731 0453.
Pension Credit
Pension Credit changes go through the same Pension Service team as State Pension, on the same number: 0800 731 0469. If you live outside the UK, contact the International Pension Centre instead.
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
PIP address changes can only be made by phone, on 0800 121 4433, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Have your National Insurance number and PIP claim reference ready. Our full PIP change of address guide covers this in more detail, including what happens if you have an appointee managing your claim.
Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
DLA is being phased out for working-age claimants in favour of PIP, but if you still receive it, contact the Disability Service Centre on 0800 121 4600, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, to report your new address.
Attendance Allowance
Call the Attendance Allowance helpline on 0800 731 0122, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, or write to the address on your most recent Attendance Allowance letter.
Quick Reference: DWP Contact Numbers
Benefit | Contact method | Number | Hours |
Universal Credit | Online journal or phone | 0800 328 5644 | Mon–Fri, 8am–6pm |
State Pension | Phone or post | 0800 731 0469 | Mon–Fri, 8am–6pm |
Pension Credit | Phone or post | 0800 731 0469 | Mon–Fri, 8am–6pm |
PIP | Phone only | 0800 121 4433 | Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm |
DLA (working age) | Phone | 0800 121 4600 | Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm |
Attendance Allowance | Phone or post | 0800 731 0122 | Mon–Fri, 8am–6pm |
Welsh language (Pension Service) | Phone | 0800 731 0453 | Mon–Fri, 8am–6pm |
Updating by Post
For State Pension and Pension Credit, you can write instead of calling:
The Pension Service
Post Handling Site A
Wolverhampton
WV98 1AF
Include your full name, National Insurance number, old address, new address, and the date you moved. Postal updates take longer than phone or online, so use this route only if you don’t have an upcoming payment or deadline that depends on your new address being on file quickly.
Accessibility Options
If you cannot use a standard phone call, the DWP offers alternative routes across its benefit lines:
- Relay UK, for anyone who cannot hear or speak on the phone: dial 18001 before the relevant number above.
- British Sign Language video relay service, available on a computer or tablet for most DWP lines.
- A Welsh-language line for Pension Service enquiries, listed in the table above.
If someone holds Power of Attorney or is a registered appointee for your benefits, they can report your address change on your behalf, using the same number as you would, with your claim reference and their own identifying details to hand.
How Long Does It Take
Processing time depends on the method and the benefit. Universal Credit journal entries and other online updates are usually reflected within a few days. Phone updates are typically actioned during the call, though a written confirmation may follow by post. Postal updates take the longest, often two to four weeks, and sometimes longer for State Pension and Pension Credit specifically.
If you have a payment, review, or reassessment due soon, use phone or online routes rather than post.
What Happens If You Don't Update Your Address
Not reporting a change of address to the DWP is treated the same as failing to report any other change in circumstances, and it carries real consequences.
Missed correspondence. Decision letters, review notices, and compliance requests go by post. If you miss one because it went to your old address, you can miss the deadline attached to it.
Overpayments you have to repay. If your move affects your entitlement, for example because your Universal Credit housing element changes, and the DWP isn’t told, you may be paid at the wrong rate. Overpayments are recoverable regardless of whether the error was deliberate.
Civil penalties. Where an overpayment results from a change you failed to report, a civil penalty can be added on top of the amount owed.
Fraud investigation. Deliberately withholding a change of address can be treated as benefit fraud by omission, which in serious cases can lead to prosecution or a reduction in benefit.
Reporting your move as soon as it happens is the simplest way to avoid all of the above.
Who Else Needs to Know You've Moved?
Updating the DWP is one part of a house move. Most people also need to notify their council, energy and water suppliers, the electoral roll, DVLA, HMRC, the TV Licence, and their GP surgery.
- Council, for council tax and local services.
- Water, gas, and electricity providers, to keep billing accurate.
- Electoral roll, to stay registered at your new address.
- DVLA, for your driving licence and vehicle logbook (V5C).
- HMRC, so your tax and benefit records are correct.
- TV Licence, a legal requirement if you watch live TV or BBC iPlayer.
- GP surgery, to keep your medical records current.
Related Guides
Update Everything Else in One Go with SlothMove
SlothMove cannot update your DWP records directly. Each benefit has to be reported to the DWP itself, using the contact details above. What SlothMove can do is take care of everything else your move involves: HMRC, DVLA, the NHS, council tax, energy, water, the TV Licence, and the electoral roll, all in one go.
What our customers say
FAQs
How do I change my address with the DWP?
It depends on which benefit you receive. Universal Credit is reported through your online journal or by calling 0800 328 5644. State Pension and Pension Credit go through the Pension Service on 0800 731 0469. PIP is reported by phone only, on 0800 121 4433. See the benefit-by-benefit section above for the full list.
Is it a legal requirement to tell the DWP when I move?
Yes. A change of address is a change in circumstances, and you’re legally required to report it. Not doing so can lead to overpayments you’ll be asked to repay, a civil penalty, and in serious cases, a fraud investigation.
Can I update my DWP address online?
Only for Universal Credit, through your online journal. Most other DWP benefits, including State Pension, Pension Credit, and PIP, don’t have a self-service online option and need to be reported by phone or post.
Do I need to tell each benefit separately when I move?
Yes, in most cases. Universal Credit, State Pension, PIP, and DLA are each administered by a different team with a different contact route, so updating one does not automatically update another.
How long does a DWP address change take to process?
Online updates, such as a Universal Credit journal entry, are usually reflected within days. Phone updates are typically actioned during the call. Postal updates are the slowest, often taking two to four weeks.
What happens if I don't tell the DWP I've moved?
You risk missing important letters, being overpaid and having to repay the difference, and facing a civil penalty. In serious cases of deliberate non-disclosure, the DWP can treat it as benefit fraud.
Will changing my address affect my benefit amount?
It can, depending on the benefit. Universal Credit’s housing cost element is based on where you live, so a move can change your entitlement. State Pension and PIP are not generally affected by an address change alone, though the DWP will still review your claim.
What information do I need to change my DWP address?
Your National Insurance number, full name, old and new address, and the date you moved. For some benefits, your claim reference number will also help the adviser find your account faster.
Can I update my DWP address before I move?
No. The DWP can only process an address change once you’re already living at the new address. Wait until your moving date has passed.
Can someone else update my DWP address on my behalf?
Yes. If someone holds Power of Attorney or is a registered appointee for your benefits, they can report your address change using the same contact details, with your claim reference and their own identification to hand.
About SlothMove
SlothMove has helped over 75,000 UK residents update their address across government and private organisations since 2019. We are an ICO-registered data controller, GDPR compliant, and backed by Taylor Rose MW, one of the UK’s
leading conveyancing firms.