I claim Universal Credit (UC). How will this be affected?
If you are claiming Universal Credit you need to report a hospital stay of 24 hours. If you do not your claim may be either stopped or reduced.
Before reporting a hospital stay it is important to have the following information to hand:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- National Insurance number
- Name and contact details if you are calling about a friend or relative
You will also be required to give the following information about your stay in hospital:
- The date that you went into hospital
- The name of the hospital and ward
- Any other hospital stays within the last 28 days
- When you were discharged (if applicable)
How to Report a Hospital Stay
You can report a hospital stay of 24 hours or longer by using your Universal Credit online account. Alternatively, you can call the Universal Credit helpline.
Couples
You and your partner continue to count as a couple for UC for six months but after this time, both of you will be treated as single claimants and you may need to reapply for benefits. This means that:
- You can no longer make a joint claim for UC,
- The calculation of your benefit no longer includes amounts for your partner, and
- You should notify the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) as you may have to reclaim UC as a single person.
