Hospitalisation and benefits

Zziggi

I wonder if anyone an help me with information about how a hospital stay affects benefits please?

I have been in hospital 3 weeks and I seem to vaguely remember that benefits are affected after 4weeks - is this true? Is this true in all circumstances?

There is my husband, me & 2 school aged children. We get income related ESA with both myself and my husband in the support group. I get DLA (HRC and HRM), husband gets DLA, child tax credits, council tax benefit. No housing benefit, no Carers allowance.

Incase it is relevant I get DLA/ESA on mental health grounds and I'm currently a voluntary patient on a mental health ward. If benefits stop after 4 weeks, how are my family to manage with me here? The ward allows me to go home 10am - 6pm most days so my care & mobility needs/ supervision etc still applies and obviously I am eating at home/washing/washing clothes etc. however I do have to return to the ward to sleep and the administer morning and night medications and come back for weekly reviews and occasional other meetings. I give this information in case there is any discretion over stopping benefits after 4 weeks.

My fear is that benefits stop after 4 weeks and so there will be no alternative but for me to ask to be discharged and dealt with in the community since I am "in the community" 10am-6pm most days anyway. I would rather not do this but I am a bit worried. If anyone can help explain the rules I would be very grateful.

paragon909

Try looking on here if this helps.

http://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/benefits-hospital