Hospitalization And Pip: Impact And Entitlements

If you are hospitalized, your Personal Independence Payment (PIP) benefits may be affected. PIP benefits are typically not impacted during the first 28 days of hospitalization, but if you were hospitalized at any time during the preceding 28-day period, these stays may be linked, and your benefits could be reduced or stopped. It is crucial to promptly notify the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or Social Security Scotland about your hospitalization to avoid any issues with your PIP benefits. Failure to report a hospital stay might result in your claim being reduced or terminated. It is important to note that if you are under 18, your PIP benefits will not be affected by hospitalization.

PIP payments stop after 28 days in hospital

If you are aged 18 or over, Personal Independence Payment (PIP) will stop after you have been in the hospital for 28 days. The day you are admitted is treated as a day out of the hospital, and the day you are discharged is treated as a day in the hospital. Both days count towards the 28-day limit. If you are under 18, your PIP payments will not stop, and you can continue to receive them indefinitely as long as you meet the other qualifying conditions.

It is important to report your hospital stay to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or Social Security Scotland, as some benefits may stop or be reduced if you do not. You will need to inform them of your admission date and any changes to your circumstances. Failure to do so may result in a request for a rebate or suspension of payments until you are discharged.

While in the hospital, you will automatically meet the basic health criteria for claiming Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). If you are not already claiming this benefit, you may consider doing so. Additionally, your universal credit will not be affected by your hospital stay, but it is still recommended to inform them of any changes.

After your discharge from the hospital, your PIP payments will resume. If you have a car through the Motability scheme, you should inform them if your hospital stay is expected to be longer than 28 days.

You must inform the DWP of hospital stays

If you are receiving Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and need to go into hospital, it is important to inform the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) as soon as possible. This is because your benefits may be affected after a certain period of time in hospital.

While your benefits are usually not impacted during the first 28 days of your hospital stay, it is crucial to notify the DWP promptly to avoid any issues or disruptions in your payments. After the initial 28 days, your PIP payments will be suspended until you are discharged from the hospital. If you were receiving care in a residential setting before your hospitalisation, your PIP daily living component may be affected as well.

When informing the DWP about your hospital stay, you will need to provide details such as the date of your admission and the expected duration of your stay. You may also need to report your change of circumstances to other organisations, depending on the specific benefits you receive. For example, if you receive Housing Benefit, you must inform your local council about your hospitalisation.

It is worth noting that if you are under 18 when admitted to the hospital, your PIP payments will not be affected. Additionally, if you are discharged from the hospital but need to return within 28 days, your benefits will stop again during this second hospitalisation.

By promptly informing the DWP and relevant organisations about your hospital stays, you can ensure that your benefits are managed appropriately and minimise any potential disruptions to your payments.

PIP restarts when you leave hospital

If you are aged 18 or over, your Personal Independence Payment (PIP) will stop after you have been in hospital for 28 days. However, if you are under 18, your PIP payments will not stop. If your PIP payments stop, they will be paid again as soon as you come out of the hospital. You will need to tell the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or Social Security Scotland that you have left the hospital.

It is important to note that you must inform the DWP if you go into the hospital, as some benefits will stop after you have been in the hospital for a certain amount of time. Your benefits will usually not be affected during the first 28 days in the hospital, but if you were in the hospital at any time in the 28 days before your current stay, these stays will be linked and counted as one period.

While you are in the hospital, you will automatically meet the basic health criteria for claiming Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). If you are not claiming this benefit and are not receiving sick pay, you may consider making a claim. Additionally, if you were living in a care home before going into the hospital, and your payment for the daily living component of PIP had stopped, you will not be paid when you go into the hospital.

Both the day you are admitted and the day you are discharged count as days out of the hospital. If you come out of the hospital but have to go back in within 28 days, your benefit will stop again as soon as you are staying in the hospital. You will need to inform the DWP or Social Security Scotland that you have returned to the hospital.

PIP is not paid if you claim while in hospital

If you are aged 18 or over, Personal Independence Payment (PIP) will stop being paid after you have been in the hospital for 28 days. The day you are admitted is treated as a day out of the hospital, and the day you are discharged is treated as a day in the hospital. This means that you will continue to receive PIP for the first 28 days of your hospital stay. After that, payments are suspended until you are discharged.

If you are discharged and have to go back into the hospital within 28 days, your benefits will stop again as soon as you are back in the hospital. If you were living in a care home before going into the hospital and your PIP daily living component had stopped, you will not be paid when you go into the hospital.

It is important to report a hospital stay of 24 hours or longer to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or Social Security Scotland. Failure to do so may result in your claim being stopped or reduced. If you are claiming PIP while already in the hospital, it cannot be paid until you leave.

It is worth noting that if you go into the hospital, your Universal Credit is not affected. However, Universal Credit will be reduced if your partner goes into the hospital for more than six months, and you will need to claim as a single person. Additionally, if you are receiving PIP, and your carer gets Carer's Allowance or the carer's element of Universal Credit, their entitlement will stop when your PIP stops.

Hospital stays impact other benefits

Hospital stays can impact various benefits, including Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Adult Disability Payment (ADP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance, Child Disability Payment, Attendance Allowance, and Pension Age Disability Payment. The day of admission and discharge are typically counted as days out of the hospital, and benefits may be affected accordingly.

For individuals aged 18 or older, benefits such as DLA, PIP, ADP, Scottish Adult DLA, Attendance Allowance, and Pension Age Disability Payment will stop after 28 days in the hospital. However, if you are under 18, your PIP, DLA, Child Disability Payment, Adult Disability Payment, or PIP payments will continue indefinitely as long as other qualifying conditions are met.

If you are claiming benefits and need to go into the hospital, it is essential to inform the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or Social Security Scotland. Failure to report a hospital stay may result in your claims being stopped or reduced. Additionally, if you were living in a care home before your hospital admission, you should be aware that certain benefits, such as the DLA care component, PIP daily living component, or Attendance Allowance, may not be paid during your hospital stay.

Universal Credit is generally not affected by hospital stays, except in specific circumstances. If your partner goes into the hospital for more than six months, your Universal Credit award may be reduced, and you will need to claim as a single person. Similarly, if a child or qualifying young person under your care goes into the hospital for an extended period, your award may be impacted.

It is worth noting that while in the hospital, you may automatically meet the health criteria for claiming Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). This benefit can provide financial support during your time in the hospital and is worth considering if you are not already claiming it.

Frequently asked questions