SE76006 - Social Security benefits: when in hospital

Benefit when in hospital

Social Security benefits may be reduced or stopped when the claimant is in hospital. Where this happens the taxable amount is the lower revised amount of benefit to which the recipient is entitled.

For example, if a retirement pensioner who does not live in a local council home or similar place, goes into hospital, his or her pension will be reduced after six weeks. If the person stays in hospital for one year the retirement pension will be reduced by a further amount.

Similarly where a retirement pensioner gets extra pension for his spouse as an adult dependent (see SE76161) and that spouse goes into hospital, the dependency addition to the pension is reduced after six weeks and again after one year.

Leaflet GL12 'Going into hospital?' explains more about this subject. Taxpayers can get a copy from their local DSS office.