In Care

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You are presumed to be in care if the establishment provides you with accommodation as well as nursing or personal care.

A older man with his care home nurse.You are not counted as being in a care home on the day you arrive or the day you leave. However, if you move into a care home from hospital, you will be counted as being in care from the day you arrive.

Different periods spent in a care home which are separated by 28 days or less will be counted as one period as under the linking rule. If you go from hospital into a care home (or vice versa), your time in hospital and care are added together for the 28 day rule.

It is therefore important that this is kept in mind when planning periods of respite care. If you spend 29 (or more) days in your home between periods of respite care, the link between stays will be broken (as there are more than 28 days between stays). Therefore, any benefits that may otherwise have been affected, will continue to be paid.

Impact of Going into Care on Benefits

If you move into a care home, the following benefits may be affected:

  • Disability Living Allowance (Care Component)
  • Attendance Allowance
  • Constant Attendance Allowance and Exceptionally Severe Disablement Allowance
  • Income Support and Income-Based Job Seekers Allowance
  • Pension Credit
  • Housing Benefit
  • Rates Relief
  • Carer’s Allowance
  • Social Fund Payments
  • War Disablement Pension

Seek Advice

If ever you are unsure about how your stay in a care home will affect your benefits, telephone the Advice NI team, Jennie and Sue, at freephone 0800 9882 377 or email the team.