Pensions and Social Security Benefits
You must tell the Disability and Carers Service, your Jobcentre Plus office or pension centre as soon as you go into or come out of hospital.
You must also tell them if someone you get benefit for goes into or comes out of hospital.
Going into hospital may affect any benefits you receive, including Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance and Incapacity Benefit.
If someone receives Carer's Allowance because they are caring for you, this may also be affected if you go into hospital.
Disability Living Allowance
If you go into hospital, nothing will usually happen to your Disability Living Allowance (DLA) straight away. If DLA is paid for someone aged 16 or over, it will usually stop after the person has been in hospital for four weeks. If DLA is paid for a child under 16, it will usually stop after the child has been in hospital for 12 weeks.
Attendance allowance
Attendance Allowance will usually stop after you have been in hospital for four weeks.
Incapacity Benefit
Incapacity Benefit will usually stop after you have been in hospital for 52 weeks.
Carers Allowance
If someone receives Carer's Allowance because they are caring for you, this can continue for up to 12 weeks if you - or they - go into hospital.
However, their Carer's Allowance will stop if your Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance stops - normally after you have been in hospital for four weeks.
Carers are responsible for telling the Carer's Allowance unit if they, or the person they care for, go into or come out of hospital.
Contact details for the Carer's Allowance Unit can be found on the 'Carer's Allowance - how to claim' page.
Pensions
If you go into hospital or someone you claim for goes into hospital you must tell The Pension Service as soon as you or they go into or come out of hospital.
Help with Fares
If you think you may be entitled to help with your fares to and from the hospital, you should ask at the General Office (Level 2: across from Ward 9). Please take any relevant forms, certificates and benefit books with you as proof. You must also keep your travel tickets.
In certain circumstances, a close relative may be able to claim travelling expenses to visit you. Please ask at the Benefits Agency Office.
Social Workers
A team of Social Workers is based in the hospital. They are able to provide a comprehensive service to you and your family. If you would like to see a Social Worker you can ask the nurse in charge to arrange this for you.
It is helpful if you have a note of the following numbers while you are in hospital:
- National Insurance number
- Pension book number
- Social Security book number