Long term Hospital Stay

Home Page › Forums › Members Forum › Long term Hospital Stay

Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • 24th September 2025 at 5:17 pm #167733
    p.turner@wycombealmshouses.co.uk
    Participant
    ()

    Hi

    any advice please.

    We have a resident who is in hospital, and it has been long term although when we enquire, we are told the plan is for discharge to home (they know our almshouses are independent living) but there are no timescales. The resident has been in hospital for 5 months so far. As far as I can find out, the housing element of UC is paid up to 6 months (as apposed to Housing benefit which can be paid up to 52 weeks). We currently receive direct payments from UC for the full amount of WMC.
    So in one month we will stop being paid the WMC (?) and the resident will start to go into arrears, and no certainty of when they will return home.

    Has anyone else had this situation? Depending on whether we get a discharge date, can the Trustees accept nil payment for a period of time?
    The other consideration the Trustees are having to decide on, is that we have an empty flat, and a long list of possible applicants who have no other recourse to housing. Is it OK to keep a flat empty with no assurance when or if a resident will return from hospital? We are not medical professionals and therefore have to rely on the hospital, and they are not being helpful.

    Thank you

    2nd October 2025 at 1:31 pm #168253
    Tina LL
    Participant
    ()

    Have you spoke to family/ support services connected with the resident and explained the financial position re. Universal credit. They might have savings to pay the wmc for a few months?

    if you set aside an appointment who would clear the property? There would be associated legal costs and it might not be good publicity for the charity to evict someone who is in hospital.

    2nd October 2025 at 1:59 pm #168260
    p.turner@wycombealmshouses.co.uk
    Participant
    ()

    Thank you Tina

    It feels like an impossible situation. By definition of being kept in hospital, the resident cannot live independently (at this moment in time, or if ever – no-one is telling us) and no-one can look into the future. She has an ASC worker and another social worker. I have been told there is a ward meeting today! Hope to have some information.

    I have also booked a meeting with a solicitor to discuss the legal aspect – but for us, it is more of a moral dilemma. If we cancel the licence, she will not be able to be discharged and the local authority will need to find alternative accommodation. She has occupied the property for less time than she has been in hospital.

    3rd October 2025 at 2:46 pm #168341
    emmapannell
    Participant
    ()

    Hi Paul – hopefully your solicitor will provide more detail on this (I assume you have a solicitor who is used to dealing with licence situations) but I think you’d set yourself up for future trouble if you simply cancel a licence. The Almshouse Standards has detail on Setting Aside a Licence, and you’d need to be careful to follow that advice. Maybe the AH Assoc can provide you with extra help here too?
    All the best, Emma

    7th October 2025 at 9:47 am #168542
    hillview25
    Participant
    ()

    Test from webmaster, please ignore…

    9th October 2025 at 1:19 pm #168822
    Buckleberry
    Participant
    ()

    I agree with Tina, I would speak to the family (if your resident has family members) as they might be able to tell you what her condition is, and whether she is likely to continue independent living when discharged from hospital. Perhaps they might even offer for her to move in with them, or support her to move into alternative care? I don’t feel it is right to make decisions without the resident’s input, but this is obviously difficult if she is in hospital, and a family member could act as an intermediary. They could also help to vacate the accommodation if she did have to end her agreement due to health.

    The WMC is obviously important but is your charity able to cope without one person’s WMC being paid for a few months?

  • Author
    Posts
Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.