Stoma bag question

Hi Tuliptrees,
I assume that you are referring to PIP.
There's no need to tell DWP you are having surgery, unless you are in hospital for over a 4 week period.
You may need to inform DWP after your surgery, when you have fully recovered and there is a health improvement to the extent that this would alter your award. This could be for one or more descriptors.

So for example if you scored over 12 points without including any points for toilet needs, then even if your health improves to the extent that you can no longer score under toilet needs, you would not need to report the change.

If however your health improves and the score for toilet needs has to be reduced, or indeed the score for any other descriptor activity is now also improved following the surgery then you will need to report the change if the lower score/s require a reduction or removal of benefit.
If you do not report a change that reduces your benefit you will then get an overpayment and you could be prosecuted.
If, (and I sincerely hope this won't be the case,) that your health becomes worse after the surgery, and you are not receiving enhanced rate of PIP, then you could Contact DWP to ask them to review their decision in order to get an increased award.
Sometimes it is obvious very soon if your health has improved following surgery, sometimes it takes a while. If your health is improving, there is no need to contact DWP immediately, make sure you really are better first.
I hope this helps, and wish you well for the surgery.
LL26