The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued a warning to those claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Universal Credit who have a hospital stay. The DWP cautioned that a hospital stay could result in the cessation of PIP and Universal Credit payments, reports Birmingham Live.
This warning was issued following an enquiry by Conservative Party MP Neil O’Brien about whether individuals receiving disability benefits, or those on low or no income benefits, can report a hospital admission via phone or through a service similar to ‘Tell Us Once’. Labour Party MP Sir Stephen Timms informed him: “For Disability Benefits, the usual route for the customer to notify us of a hospital admission is either via phone or in writing. Universal Credit customers can report a hospital stay via a phone call, they can also report it digitally via a journal message on their Universal Credit account or via a third party or supporter if consent has been given.”
In the Commons, Sir Stephen added: “The Department is working on a digital channel for customers which will allow them to tell us about changes in one place. We do have plans to enable this going forward, but the work is not expected to be complete for at least another 12 months. Disability Benefits, other low-income benefits and later life services are in-scope for this work, but, at present, Universal Credit is not.”
Sir Stephen explained: “Where an adult aged 18 or over is maintained free of charge while undergoing medical or other treatment as an in-patient in a hospital or similar institution funded by the NHS, payment of (but not entitlement to) Personal Independence Payment ceases after 28 days.”
He added, “This is on the basis that the NHS is responsible for not only the person’s medical care but also the entirety of their disability-related extra costs and to pay PIP in addition would be a duplication of public funds intended for the same purpose. Once someone is discharged from hospital, payment of PIP recommences from the date of discharge.”
Sir Stephen also noted that the DWP requires claimants to report if they go into hospital for more than one night. For Universal Credit, he advised reporting a hospital stay of 24 hours or longer using your online account or contacting the helpline.
For those receiving pension-age benefits such as State Pension, Pension Credit, or Attendance Allowance, he recommended calling the Pension Service helpline. For Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment, the appropriate point of contact is the Disability Service Centre.
Lastly, for individuals on low or no income benefits like Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), or Housing Benefit, Sir Stephen urged reaching out to Jobcentre Plus.