Hospitalisation
When a client receiving a main benefit (or their partner) is admitted to hospital, their main benefit or New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran’s Pension can continue at the full rate for the first 13 weeks.
The rate of payment is reduced to the hospital rate after the client has been in hospital for more than 13 weeks (not after receiving a benefit for 13 weeks).
Exception couples with dependent children do not have their benefit payment reduced regardless of how long they are in hospital.
Single clients qualifying benefit is reduced to a hospital rate
A client who is getting the Winter Energy Payment and who has had their main benefit reduced to the hospital rate, (even if this is paid at a higher rate because the client cannot meet their continuing costs in the community from the hospital rate), can only get the Winter Energy Payment if they still require assistance with their winter energy costs.
When considering if the client still requires assistance with their winter energy costs, consider the:
- expected time of the clients stay in hospital, for example, has the client been given a discharge date within 2 weeks and is expecting to return to their accommodation?
- clients continuing contribution to their household winter energy costs while in hospital, and their expected discharge date
Partner with no dependent children is hospitalised
When the partner is in hospital, the client living in the community can receive the full couple rate of Winter Energy Payment.
This may have to be paid manually to the client living in the community as the system will automatically divide Winter Energy Payment for clients receiving a main benefit.
