carmind wrote: someone waiting for a tribunal appeal date, and so receiving ESA at the assessment rate. Now in hospital waiting for an operation. What happens to his ESA payments?
If you go into hospital, you must report this to Jobcentre Plus. You can continue to get contributory ESA while you're in hospital, however long this may be. You can also continue to be paid income-related ESA indefinitely if you go into hospital.
However, because benefits such as Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Carer’s Allowance are withdrawn after you've been in hospital for a certain time (DLA after 4 weeks and Carer’s Allowance after 12 weeks), any severe disability or carer premium that you get may also be stopped. The enhanced disability premium, however, can continue to be paid for 52 weeks of a hospital stay. If you receive housing costs, these may no longer be payable after 52 weeks.
If you're a patient detained under section 45A or section 47 of the Mental Health Act, you're not entitled to benefits.
from here more details click on links at bottom for more info
www.nhs.uk/CarersDirect/moneyandlegal/ot...ges/ESA-changes.aspx 
