If you are going in to hospital your benefits are likely to be re-assessed. Make sure you notify the Department for Work and Pensions.
Also let us know here at Lewisham Council so we can deal with claims for Housing and Council Tax benefits.
Get in touch with the Department for Work and Pensions about your benefits and your bills. This is important as in most cases your benefit entitlement will have to be reassessed to take account of your hospital stay. Most benefits are reduced during a stay in hospital - usually after either four or six weeks.
If you were not claiming any form of benefit prior to entering hospital you may now be entitled to claim.
When you come out of hospital you should notify both the Department for Work and Pensions and us here at the Lewisham Council office that deals with your claims for Housing and Council tax Benefit.
This is important as you will need to have your benefit reassessed when you return home. You may also be entitled to other benefits if you have become disabled as a result of your illness.
Who is eligible
If you are going into hospital – or are now in hospital – you qualify for our benefits and bills advice and support.
You may be able to claim for a benefit that you were not entitled to claim before you were admitted to hospital.
How to access the service
To find out if the benefit you are claiming is affected by a stay in hospital or if there are any benefits that you may be entitled please click here to contact the Department of Work and Pensions.
Housing benefits
If you are a Council tenant you should contact your housing office about claiming rent rebate. The easiest way to apply is to complete a benefit claim form, available from all housing offices, or by contacting the housing benefit section through the details below
Council tax benefit
If you would like to apply for a Council Tax Benefit please contact one of the numbers below:
- If you are a Council Tenant ring 020 8314 2600.
- If you rent your property from a landlord or housing association ring 020 8690 8444
- If you own your property or have a mortgage, please ring 020 8690 9666.
For further details of who to ask for advice on Housing and Council Tax benefits use the contact details below.