If you receive benefits and are going in to hospital you should immediately notify both:

• the Department for Work and Pensions and
• the Housing Benefit Office that deals with your claims for Housing Benefits and Council Tax Support (see Reporting Changes)

This is important as in most cases your benefit entitlement will have to be reassessed to take account of your new circumstances. Most benefits are reduced during a stay in hospital, usually after either four or six weeks.

If you were not claiming any form of benefit before entering hospital you may now be entitled to claim, and can contact the Welfare Benefits Team for advice.

Additionally when you leave hospital, you will need to have your benefit reassessed when you return home. You may also be entitled to other benefits if you have become disabled as a result of your illness.

To find out if the benefit you are claiming is affected by a stay in hospital, or if there are any benefits that you may be entitled to please contact the Welfare Benefits Team.