Claiming benefits if you’re going into a care home
Report a care home stay if you claim benefits
You must tell the organisation that pays your benefit as soon as possible if you go into a care home for one night or longer. You should also tell them if you stay in a hospital and get benefits.
Someone else can do this for you. They’ll need to give their name and contact details.
What you’ll need to report a stay
You need to give your:
- full name
- date of birth
- National Insurance number
- partner’s details (if they’re on your claim)
You’ll need to give details of your stay, including:
- the name and address of the care home you’re staying in
- the date you were admitted
- the address you were living at before you were admitted
- details of how your stay is being paid for
- the name of your local authority or council
- details of a power of attorney or appointee, if there is one
If you’ve stayed in more than one care home, you need to provide these details for each stay. This includes the date you were admitted and the date you left each care home.
You also need to give details about any stays in hospital in the 28 days before you were admitted to the care home, including:
- the date you were admitted to hospital
- the date you left hospital
- the name of each hospital you were in
- if you moved between hospitals
- where you were discharged to, for example your home or a care home
You could be taken to court or have to pay a penalty if you give wrong information or do not report a change in your circumstances.
If you live in Scotland
You’ll also need to give details about your application for free personal and nursing care, if you’ve made one.
Who to contact
Who you tell depends on which benefits you get. You might need to contact more than one organisation if you get more than one benefit.
| Benefit | Contact |
|---|---|
| Attendance Allowance | Call the Attendance Allowance helpline |
| Disability Living Allowance (DLA) | Call the Disability Service Centre |
| Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) | Call Jobcentre Plus |
| Housing Benefit | Tell your local council |
| Income Support | Call Jobcentre Plus |
| Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) | Call Jobcentre Plus |
| Personal Independence Payment (PIP) | Call the Disability Service Centre |
| State Pension and Pension Credit | Contact the Pension Service by phone or post |
| Universal Credit | Use your Universal Credit online account if you have one or contact the Universal Credit helpline |
If you claim Carer’s Allowance for someone who goes into a home, report a change online or call the Carer’s Allowance Unit.
After you’ve reported a stay
If you pay for the care home yourself
You can only claim certain benefits if you’re in a care home. You may be able to continue getting:
- the daily living and mobility parts of Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- the care and mobility parts of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- the care and mobility parts of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children
- Attendance Allowance
- an extra amount for severe disability paid with Pension Credit
Any other benefits you get will stop.
If you do not pay for the care home yourself
Most benefits usually stop within 28 days of you being admitted to a care home if your stay is funded by one of the following:
- NHS continuing healthcare
- NHS funding for nursing care
- your local council
If you get NHS funding for nursing care, you might still be able to get the care and mobility parts of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children.
If you get funding from your local council, you might still be able to get the mobility parts of: