If you have a date for admission, it's really important that you make plans in advance.

If you are 65 or older you can receive advice from the free information service Care Direct on freephone 0845 1551 007.

Your benefits

If you know that you are going into hospital you should immediately notify the Department for Work and Pensions and the district council office that deals with your claims for Housing and Council Tax Benefit.

This is important as in most cases your benefit entitlement will have to be reassessed to take account of your new circumstances. Most benefits are reduced during a stay in hospital, usually after either four or six weeks.

If you were not claiming any form of benefit prior to entering hospital you may now be entitled to claim.

See also:

• Leaving hospital
• Care of your pet if you go into hospital or residential care