Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 1 October 2019 to Question 290603, what support is available to people who would otherwise be eligible for benefits and who are undergoing long-term hospital care to pay for (a) mortgages, (b) rents and (c) other personal and care charges to help ensure that they do not lose their unit of accommodation while in NHS-funded care.

It is a long standing principle that there should not be double provision for the same contingency out of public funds. Legislation provides that where any costs of qualifying services are borne out of public funds the disability benefits (Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payment) are withdrawn after 28 days.

Certain additions are payable on top of income-related benefits, such as Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Employment and Support Allowance, and Universal Credit. Housing costs in legacy benefits and Universal Credit are withdrawn after an adult has been a hospital in-patient for a specified period depending on their individual circumstances.

Housing Benefit can remain in payment up to 52 weeks, for people who are hospitalised, as long as they intend to return to their normal dwelling and it has not been sublet during their absence.