October 2018

Legislative authority

Section 2, 7 of the Act.
Sections 1(1), 2, 7, 40, 47 and 58.3 of Regulation 134/98.

Audit requirements

Adequate documentation is on file to support the issuance of assistance to persons in hospitals.

Decisions about the maintenance or reduction of assistance are documented on file.

Application of policy

Hospitals include general, chronic care, convalescent, psychiatric and rehabilitation hospitals.

In situations where an applicant, recipient or member of the benefit unit enters a hospital, retains community accommodation, and has financial commitments related to that accommodation, the full amount of income assistance is issued for the first three full calendar months of hospitalization.

If, during the stay in the hospital, the recipient changes community accommodation (e.g., gives up accommodation, changes from renter to boarder or lodger, etc.) the shelter allowance provided will reflect the change and an amount for basic needs will continue to be provided (adult members of the benefit unit only).

For applicants/recipients, their spouses or dependent adults who continue to reside in a hospital after three months, the Administrator may reduce the amount of assistance paid on behalf of the member that is hospitalized to an amount no less than $149 per month, but the Administrator is not required to do so.

Dependent children in hospitals

In situations where a dependent child enters a hospital, it is recognized that maintaining the child in the benefit unit is necessary to allow the parent to retain suitable housing for the child's planned return. For this reason, the full amount of income assistance (i.e., sole support parent supplement and age-related supplements, where applicable, and the child's portion of the shelter amount) is issued for the first three full calendar months of hospitalization. Where it is already being paid, the Transition Child Benefit (TCB) continues to be issued on behalf of a dependent child.

If, during the stay in the hospital, the recipient changes community accommodation (e.g., gives up accommodation, changes from renter to boarder or lodger, etc.) the shelter allowance provided will reflect the change.

In situations where a dependent child continues to reside in a hospital after three months, the family will continue to receive basic needs (including the sole support parent and age-related supplements, where applicable) and the shelter amount for the dependent child. Where it is already being paid, the TCB continues to be issued on behalf of the dependent child. However, an amount no less than $149 per month will not be issued in addition to these amounts for the child.