IS20 - A guide to Income Support

Who can get Income Support?

Couples

One partner in hospital

If you are treated as a couple and one partner has gone into hospital, there is normally no change in your benefit for the first 52 weeks, although Severe Disability Premium may be reduced after 4 weeks when AA or DLA is withdrawn. Carer Premium may continue for 8 weeks after Carer’s Allowance has stopped. After 52 weeks in hospital you will receive your normal personal allowance and any allowances for dependants, unless you are separately assessed for Income Support. If you are separately assessed for Income Support, the partner in hospital will be treated as a single claimant.

Both partners in hospital

If both partners are in hospital and you have dependants, for the first 52 weeks there is no change in your benefit, except that Severe Disability Premium will be reduced after 4 weeks when AA or DLA is withdrawn. Carer Premium may continue for 8 weeks after Carer’s Allowance has stopped. After you have both been in hospital for more than 52 weeks you will receive your normal personal allowance unless you are separately assessed for Income Support. You will get the personal allowance for your dependants and Family Premium or a Disabled Child Premium (if appropriate) for as long as you are responsible for your children.

Dependent child or young person in hospital

If a child or young person goes into hospital, there is no change in the benefit you get for them.

If you made a claim on or after 06/06/04 you must claim Child Tax Credit to receive a payment for your children.

Linked periods in hospital

If you are a non-dependant and are re-admitted to hospital within 28 days of discharge, the separate periods in hospital will be added together to work out the length of time you have spent in hospital, and the point at which you will no longer be required to make a contribution towards the costs of sharing the household.

Housing costs

You will continue to get any Income Support housing cost payments for as long as you are treated as responsible for the costs. This will normally be for up to a maximum of 52 weeks. If it is known at the outset or it becomes clear during your stay that your absence is going to be considerably longer than a year, then your housing costs payment will be stopped immediately.

For detailed information on what Housing Benefit you will get while in hospital see guide RR2 A guide to Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.

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