Your entitlements in hospital depend on which benefits you receive:
If you are aged 16 or over, after 4 weeks your Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance will be suspended until you leave hospital, unless you are on home leave - see below.
For children aged under 16, Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance stop after 12 weeks.
From April 2006, key personal benefits like Incapacity Benefit, Retirement Pension, or Pension Credit will not be reduced when you stay in hospital. There is also no reduction in these benefits after 52 weeks in hospital.
Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit can continue for up to 12 months for your home address if you are in hospital.
Home Leave
For each full day of home leave you will be entitled to the full daily rate of the benefits you were getting before you went into hospital, including any Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance. Home leave only counts if you have stayed overnight at home.
Ask the Ward Clerk if you need help. Make a note of the dates you were on home leave and tell the Pension Service.
Fares to and from Hospital
You may be able to claim a fares refund of your bus, train or petrol costs to get to and from hospital for treatment, and for someone who has to go with you if you are unable to get to the hospital on your own. You may be able to get a refund if you get the guarantee credit element of Pension Credit, or if you get Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit - it depends on your income.
To claim, ask at the clinic reception desk. You will need to show your award letter for pension credit or tax credits or your NHS tax credit exemption certificate. If you are not on any of these benefits but your weekly money is low, you can apply for a certificate that may entitle you to a full or part refund of your fares.
Visiting costs - you can claim a refund of the fares to visit someone in hospital if you get Pension Credit. You should apply for a grant from the Social Fund on form SF300 which you can get from Jobcentre Plus or the Pension Service. However, these payments are discretionary.
Leaving Hospital
When you leave hospital, let the relevant agencies know straightaway (Disability Benefits Centre, Jobcentre Plus, Revenues and Benefits Unit, Pension Service) so that they can increase your benefit back to normal levels. If you delay you may lose out on benefit. You should also get advice if you get Pension Credit and you need to claim a Community Care Grant for items like furniture from the Social Fund. You can ask the Pension Service or Jobcentre Plus for form SF300 to apply.
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Information Provider:
Manchester Advice
Date Written:
September 2005
Date Reviewed:
13 April 2006
This information is for guidance only and is not an authoritative statement on the law. Please read our Terms and Conditions.
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