Income Support: Hospitalisation in Excess of 28 Days: Payments Maintained

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A decision made 10 June 2014:

Decision Reference: MD-S-2014-0074
Decision Summary Title:	Income Support - periods of hospitalisation in excess of 28 days		Date of Decision Summary:	6 June 2014
Decision Summary Author:	Policy Principal		Decision Summary:	Public
Type of Report:	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title:	Income Support - periods of hospitalisation in excess of 28 days		Date of Written Report:	6 June 2014
Written Report	Policy Principal		Written Report	Public
Subject: Income Support - periods of hospitalisation in excess of 28 days
Decision(s): From 15 October 2013 the Income Support legislation was amended to remove a household’s entitlement to the accommodation and housing components in situations where all adult members are outside the island for longer than 4 weeks or for similar periods where all adult members are in prison or other publicly funded accommodation. As a consequence of this change to the Regulations the continued payment of these Income Support benefit components is limited in respect of periods where the sole adult member of a household is in hospital (or another medical facility) for a continuous period in excess of 28 days. However the Minister has decided that in circumstances where an individual is hospitalised for more than 28 days, but less than 12 weeks, payment will always be maintained. This will be paid under Ministerial Discretion. For administrative purposes this requires an addendum to the Income Support Determining Officer’s Guidelines to reflect this decision. In the unusual circumstances where a period of hospitalisation extends beyond 12 weeks cases will be manually reviewed and a report will be compiled and referred to the Minister to consider whether payment should continue further.
Reason(s) for Decision: It is unlikely that a situation will arise where it would not be appropriate for Income Support to continue payments where a person is forced to remain in hospital or another comparable facility for an extended period in excess 28 days. It is reasonable to believe that any person remaining in hospital for a lengthy period is either extremely unwell or is prevented from returning home due to mobility or monitoring issues.
Resource Implications: There are no manpower implications for this decision. Any additional cost will be absorbed into the existing Income Support budget.
Action required: Policy Principal to note this decision and arrange for the Income Support Determining Officer’s Guide to be amended accordingly.
Signature:		Position: Minister
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

Income Support: Hospitalisation in Excess of 28 Days: Payments Maintained

Social Security

Ministerial Decision Report

Payment via Ministerial Discretion - Income Support accommodation and household components for periods of hospitalisation in excess of 28 days

From 15 October 2013 the Income Support legislation was amended to remove a household’s entitlement to the accommodation and housing components in situations where all adult members are outside the island for longer than 4 weeks or for similar periods where all adult members are in prison or other publicly funded accommodation. As a consequence of this change to the Regulations the continued payment of these Income Support benefit components is limited in respect of periods where the sole adult member of a household is in hospital (or another medical facility) for a continuous period in excess of 28 days.

However, it is unlikely that a situation would occur where it would not be appropriate for Income Support to continue payment if a person is forced to remain in hospital or another comparable facility. Colleagues in Health and Social Services discharge patients unless there is a valid reason not to do so and it is reasonable to expect that any person remaining in hospital longer than 28 days is either extremely ill, or prevented from returning to their home for mobility or monitoring issues. Therefore the Income Support guidelines will be amended to include reference to payments for individuals who are hospitalised for periods in excess of 28 days as being available via Ministerial Discretion.

The Social Security Minister has decided that in circumstances where an individual is hospitalised for more than 28 days, but less than 12 weeks, payment will always be maintained. This will be paid under Ministerial Discretion. For administrative purposes this requires an addendum to the Income Support Determining Officer’s Guidelines to reflect this decision. In the unusual circumstances where a period of hospitalisation extends beyond 12 weeks cases will be manually reviewed and a report will be compiled and referred to the Minister to consider whether payment should continue further.