IS20 - A guide to Income Support

Who can get Income Support

Hospital in-patients

Your Income Support payments may be affected if you, your partner or a dependent child go into hospital. The money you get will depend on whether you have a partner or dependants, which one of you is in hospital and the length of time the patient is in hospital.[Legislation (26)]

Changes to the rules

From April 2006, if your money has been reduced to the hospital personal allowance it will be restored  to the full rate. However, the rules for Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Constant Attendance Allowance and Carer's Allowance will not change. Also, the rules on the removal of the severe disability premium and carer premium will not change.

Single claimants

If you are a single claimant and you go into hospital, for the first 52 weeks there is normally no change in the benefit paid to you unless you are entitled to the Severe Disability Premium which is withdrawn when your Attendance Allowance (AA) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is withdrawn (usually after 4 weeks). Carer Premium may continue for 8 weeks after Carer’s Allowance has stopped. After 52 weeks you will receive your normal personal allowance.

Lone parents

If you are a lone parent and you go into hospital there is normally no change to your benefit for the first 52 weeks. Severe Disability Premium may be stopped after 4 weeks when your AA or DLA is withdrawn. Carer Premium may continue for 8 weeks after Carer’s Allowance has stopped. After 52 weeks for as long as you are still responsible for your children, you will receive your normal personal allowance and the personal allowance for your children, the Family Premium and if eligible, the Disabled Child Premium.

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