HUNDREDS of people in Basingstoke and the Test Valley had their disability benefits stopped after stays in hospital, according to shocking new figures.

The findings, acquired under the Freedom of Information Act, showed that 260 people have had their benefits stopped over the past three years (2020 to the first quarter of 2022) in Basingstoke after staying more than 28 days in the hospital.

In Test Valley, 180 people found themselves in the same position.

Basingstoke Gazette:

The government claims that this is because their needs are met while in the hospital, but critics argue this is deeply unfair.

In Basingstoke, there has been a worrying increase throughout the three years, with just 70 missing out in 2020 increasing to 100 by 2022. An increase of 42 per cent.

Over the course of the three years in Test Valley, there has been a 40 per cent increase from 50 residents to 70 having their benefits cut.

But the government says that the ‘hospitalisation rule’ is in place to make sure tax-payers are not ‘paying double’ for disabled people’s care.

All over the country, a total of 45,850 people had their Personal Independence Payment (PIP) disability benefit cut while in hospital, according to findings from the BBC Shared Data Unit.

Nearby Hampshire cities and towns have also seen some shocking figures. In Southampton, 170 residents have had their benefits stopped during the first quarter of this year.

Meanwhile, Winchester and Hart have seen the least disabled residents have their money cut with only 60 residents missing out so far this year.

Basingstoke Gazette:

Nationwide the highest number of suspensions was for people with mental health difficulties.

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson said: “We are committed to ensuring that disabled people get all the support to which they are entitled.

“It is a long-standing rule that payment of extra costs benefits, such as Personal Independence Payment, is suspended after the first 28 days in a hospital or similar institution, to avoid double provision from public funds.

“While the number of hospitalisation suspensions has gone up so has the number of PIP awards; suspensions still form a very small proportion of the overall PIP caseload.”

The Mencap charity has argued that the hospitalisation rule is particularly unfair to people with learning difficulties, who are more likely to ‘fall foul’ of it, which will have a harsher impact on them and their families in turn.

Head of policy Dan Schorer said: “While the NHS is taking steps to support family carers and acknowledge the important role they play in contributing to successfully managing hospital stays for their loved ones with a learning disability, the benefits system has this arbitrary 28-day cliff edge after which support is stopped.”