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Chapter 3: Children in hospital
Hospital inpatient
For benefits other than personal independence payment (PIP), adult disability payment (ADP), child disability payment (CDP), child benefit and guardian’s allowance, your child counts as a hospital inpatient if they are being maintained free of charge while having medical or other treatment as an inpatient in an NHS hospital or similar institution.1Reg 2(4) SS(HIP) Regs; regs 8 and 12A SS(DLA) Regs For PIP and ADP, your child counts as a hospital inpatient if they are undergoing medical or other treatment as an inpatient in a hospital or similar institution and any of the costs of treatment, accommodation or related services are paid for out of ‘public funds’.2s86(2) and (3) WRA 2012; reg 29(2) SS(PIP) Regs; para P3062 ADM; reg 28 DAWAP(S) Regs If your child is being treated as a private patient, they do not count as an inpatient for benefit purposes.
‘Medical or other treatment’ is treatment by a doctor, dentist or professionally qualified or trained nurse, or by someone under the supervision of such a person.3SSWP v Slavin [2011] EWCA Civ 1515
For CDP, child benefit and guardian’s allowance, there is no statutory definition of hospital inpatient and it should be given its ordinary meaning.
 
1     Reg 2(4) SS(HIP) Regs; regs 8 and 12A SS(DLA) Regs  »
2     s86(2) and (3) WRA 2012; reg 29(2) SS(PIP) Regs; para P3062 ADM; reg 28 DAWAP(S) Regs  »
3     SSWP v Slavin [2011] EWCA Civ 1515 »