How being in a NHS or NHS trust Hospital may affect your benefits

After 4 weeks

If you or your partner have been in hospital for 4 weeks or more, and were in receipt of Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance, entitlement to these benefits is suspended. Any payment books must be returned to the Department of Works and Pensions or Pension Service. This in itself does not mean you lose entitlement to any disability related premiums awarded in the calculation of Housing and Council Tax Benefit, but you must inform us as soon as possible.

As a result of being in hospital for 4 weeks or more, any Severe Disability Premiums will be removed from the Applicable Amount figure as a result of the suspension of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Attendance Allowance (AA).

A carers entitlement to Carers Premium will stop after the person they are caring for has been in hospital for four weeks.

A member of a couple

Only one member in hospital:

After 52 weeks the customer still living in the property is treated as a single person, or lone parent if there are dependants in the household.

Both members in hospital:

The 52 weeks downrating rules apply.

Non-Dependants

Any Non-Dependant deductions will cease where the Non-Dependant is in hospital for 52 weeks or more.

Linking Rule

When calculating the 52 week period, all stays in hospital are added together if the break between them is 4 weeks or less.

Trial periods in residential accommodation do not count as hospitalisation.

Where a customer does not intend to return home their benefit will be cancelled from the date the decision not to return is taken.

What happens after 52 weeks of hospitalisation?

If you have been in an NHS or NHS trust hospital for 52 weeks or more and live alone, or you are a lone parent, entitlement to Housing and Council Tax benefit may cease.

If your partner has been in hospital for 52 weeks or more and you are still resident in the property, your partner will no longer be counted as part of your household for benefit purpose, and you will be treated as a single person, or lone parent if there are dependants in the household.

If a child or young person has been in hospital for 52 weeks or more, they will no longer be counted as part of your family for benefit purposes.

More Information and Advice

If you require any further assistance or advise regarding hospitalisation please visit the Council's finance receptions at Ilkeston and Long Eaton Town Halls, or contact the Housing Benefits office if you rent your property on (0115) 907 1010 or e-mail: benefits@erewash.gov.uk
Finance Department
Erewash Borough Council
PO Box 2
Wharncliffe Road
Ilkeston
Derbyshire
DE7 5SE