What will happen after 52 weeks of being in hospital?

If you have been in hospital for more than 52 weeks then you are no longer entitled to Housing Benefit (HB). This means you would have to pay the full rent or mortgage payments on your home. If you cannot afford to pay your rent or mortgage you could be evicted. If you anticipate that your stay in hospital will be longer than 52 weeks, you may need to consider handing a notice in to end your tenancy. This way you won’t be charged rent in absence of housing benefit. Remember you need to think about alternative housing arrangements for when you leave the hospital. It may be reasonable to keep paying rent for a few weeks to stay in the property.

Premiums

Sometimes if you are claiming benefits you get extra money added to your claim if you meet certain criteria. These are known as premiums. For example, if you claim the Severe Disability Premium on your Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), or if you live alone and you are disabled.

Some premiums can still be paid for 52 weeks if you go into hospital. After this time they will stop. This could mean that your benefit drops after you have been in hospital for 52 weeks, even if you are still eligible to receive benefits.

Couples

If you have a partner you will still be treated as a couple for benefits purposes for 52 weeks. After this time both of you will be treated as single claimants and you may need to reapply for benefits. Seek advice from a welfare rights specialist if this applies to you, so you can understand what you need to do to make new claims for benefits.

Income Support and Pension Credit

If you receive Income Support or Pension Credit, this continues to be paid to you even if you are in hospital for over 52 weeks. However, after this you will lose any disability premiums. This means the amount you get will be less.