I’m due to go into hospital so will my benefits be affected?
There has been a recent announcement that will affect all new claims for Universal Credit for claimants receiving the benefit as a job seeker.
Previously when a UC claim wascommencedtheDWPallowed claimants a three-month period inwhichtoobtainemploymentin their preferred area of expertise andafterthisthree-monthperiod has passed claimants would then be expected to apply for jobs in a muchwidergroupofemployment areas even if they had no previous experience or salaries offered would be much lower than those they typically received in their usual area of employment.
Failing to widen their job search could then lead to a UC sanction. The three-month period will now be reduced to four weeks, the intention being to assist in the economic recovery following Covid and lockdown restrictions. These changes will only affect UC claimants who are job seekers, those claiming on grounds of ill health or as a carer won’t be affected.
Q. I currently receive PIP for care and mobility, these are the only benefits I currently receive andIamduetogointohospitalfor surgeryandlikelytoremainaninpatient for some time.
Will my benefits be affected? A. Generally speaking most benefitswillbeaffectedifcostsfor carearemetfrompublicfunds,so admissionstohospital,residential care, etc. may lead to the suspension of your benefits after a fourweek period.
The admission to hospital will not actually end the claim, rather your payments will be suspended whenthefour-weekperiodbegins andupondischargeyouwouldnotify the DWP to have the benefits put back into payment.
If you feel there have been any changes to your care or mobility needs following treatment then these should be disclosed to the DWP as your benefits may need to be reassessed but simply being a hospital patient or having treatment in itself should not trigger a review of a previously decided award.
Also you need to remember that if you have anyone claiming Carer’s Allowance for looking afteryouwillalsohavetheirbenefits suspendedafterthefour-weekperiod and they should also advise theDWPastheinformationisnot automaticallypassedfromdepartment to department within the DWP.
Upon discharge and provided your own PIP award has not changed then your carer will also get the Carer’s Allowance reinstated.