Hospital and benefits - Discharge from hospital

If you have spent time as an in-patient in a hospital, it is the hospital's duty to arrange a discharge plan before you return home.

The hospital should do a needs assessment to estimate the level of care you'll need in order to manage safely at home after you're discharged. This is usually arranged by a hospital social worker or care manager, but your local council's social services should also be involved. 

You shouldn't be discharged from hospital until you've have had this assessment.

You remain the responsibility of the National Health Service (NHS) for six weeks after discharge, after which you become the responsibility of the local council's social services department.

If you are not assessed before leaving hospital, contact your social services department through your local council

If you have a carer

Any carers you have should be involved in the planning of the assessment and their needs should also be considered when deciding what support you'll need. 

They are also entitled to a Carer's Assessment in their own right, which could be carried out at the same time or separately. For more information, visit our section on Help from the local council (Carers).

Further information:

• NHS - Being discharged from hospital 
• Age UK - Being discharged from hospital: What support will I get?