Hospital and benefits - Means-tested benefits when you go into hospital
When you or someone in your family go into or come out of hospital, the benefits you get may change.
- Last reviewed 06 November 2025
Means-tested benefits when you go into hospital
Some benefits may go down after you've been in hospital for 28 days, and go down again or stop completely if you're in for more than 52 weeks.
This applies to these benefits:
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Pension Credit
Universal Credit
If you are getting Universal Credit, the amount you get may go down after you have been in hospital for six months.
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