The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is developing a new ‘digital channel’ to make it easier for those receiving disability benefits, other low-income benefits and the State Pension to report changes. Sir Stephen Timms, the Minister for Social Security and Disabilities, has revealed that this project will, however, exclude Universal Credit claimants, who currently use an online journal to liaise with their work coaches and the DWP.

The revelation emerged after Conservative MP Neil O’Brien inquired about how claimants can inform about hospital stays. In his written response, Sir Stephen explained: “For disability benefits, the usual route for the customer to notify us of a hospital admission is either via phone or in writing.”

He further noted: “Universal Credit customers can report a hospital stay via a phone call, they can also report it digitally via a journal message on their Universal Credit account or via a third party or supporter if consent has been given.”

He continued: “The department is working on a digital channel for customers which will allow them to tell us about changes in one place. We do have plans to enable this going forward, but the work is not expected to be complete for at least another 12 months. Disability benefits, other low-income benefits and later life services are in-scope for this work, but, at present, Universal Credit is not.”

Sir Stephen has shed light on the reasons why Personal Independent Payments (PIP) may be temporarily halted when a claimant is hospitalised, clarifying that it’s merely a suspension of payments rather than an impact on entitlement. According to the Daily Record, the DWP minister outlined in a written reply to Mr O’Brien that a hospital admission does not influence Universal Credit eligibility.

Sir Stephen elaborated: “Where an adult aged 18 or over is maintained free of charge while undergoing medical or other treatment as an in-patient in a hospital or similar institution funded by the NHS, payment of (but not entitlement to) Personal Independence Payment (PIP) ceases after 28 days.”

He added: “This is on the basis that the NHS is responsible for not only the person’s medical care but also the entirety of their disability-related extra costs and to pay PIP in addition would be a duplication of public funds intended for the same purpose. Once someone is discharged from hospital, payment of PIP recommences from the date of discharge.”

Furthermore, he assured that “entitlement and payment of the standard allowance of Universal Credit will not change if a customer goes into hospital for treatment and/ or care, regardless of the duration of the stay. If the customer has been found to have limited capacity for work or work-related activity, this element will continue to be paid alongside the Universal Credit standard allowance.”

What needs to be reported if you go into hospital

You need to give details about your stay in hospital, including:

• where you were discharged to, for example your home or a care home
• the exact date you left hospital – if you have left
• the name of the ward you were on – if you know it
• the name of the hospital you were in
• if you moved between hospitals
• any other hospital stays in the last 28 days
• the exact date you went into hospital

You may need to report the stay to more than one office if you receive more than one benefit payment. Full details of all the numbers that need ot be called can be found here.