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Housing and hospital stays
If you might need to go into hospital for your mental health, you may worry about what could happen to your home. You might also worry about how you'll cope when you return home after a stay in hospital.
Support is available and there are people and organisations who can help.
This page covers:
- Managing housing during hospital stays
- Housing support after being sectioned in hospital
- What if I’m homeless when I leave hospital?
This page is part of our guide to:
I nearly lost my flat because I was in hospital. The cooker and things were left on and getting damaged.
Managing housing during hospital stays
It can help to plan how to manage different aspects of your housing in case you need to go into hospital.
- Money, bills and debts. It may help to think about how you'll pay your bills while you're in hospital. Our pages on money and mental health have advice on managing money, bills and debts. This includes when you're struggling with your mental health.
- Benefits. If you receive benefits, you'll need to tell the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) that you're in hospital. This may affect your benefits. Visit the UK government's information about going into hospital if you get benefits to find out more.
- Children. If you have children who live with you, you may feel especially worried about going into hospital. Our page on parenting and mental health has tips that may help.
- Pets. If you're going into hospital and you have care and support needs, your local council has a duty to arrange care for your pet. But you might need to pay any costs.
The online advice service Mental Health and Money Advice has more information on managing your money if you have to go into hospital. This includes information on what may happen to your home and pets.
Our page on being treated in hospital might also help.
Housing support after being sectioned in hospital
You might be entitled to free aftercare from your local council when you leave hospital. This is available if you were detained in hospital under some sections of the Mental Health Act.
It can cover many things, including social care and supported accommodation. Supported accommodation is a home where you get support with day-to-day living. And learn skills to live independently.
See our page on section 117 aftercare for more information, including whether you can get this support.
If you've been a voluntary patient, you're not entitled to section 117 aftercare. But your local council may have a duty to assess your needs. Our pages on your health and social care rights have more information.
What if I'm homeless when I leave hospital?
If you're homeless when you leave hospital, you may be entitled to accommodation from your local council. But the council must classify you as in 'priority need'.
If your mental health means you might be a priority group, talk to your local council. Sometimes hospital staff can support you when you're in contact with the local council.
If you speak to the council about this, you may need to give them information about your health. This could include information from medical professionals, social services or organisations that give you care and support.
See more on housing and mental health
Social housing and mental health
Homelessness, housing support and mental health
– Housing and hospital stays
Housing disrepair and mental health
Published: October 2024
Next review planned: October 2027
References are available on request. If you would like to reproduce any of this information, see our page on permissions and licensing.
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