My friend, who lives alone, is quite poorly and has been admitted to hospital. He gets Income Related ESA paid into his bank and Housing Benefit paid straight to his landlord. What will happen to his benefits while he is in hospital?
Both ESA and HB should continue to be paid.
You have not mentioned if he gets Personal Independence Payment or any other disability benefit. If he does, they might stop after 4 weeks and that could mean the amount of his ESA reduces after 4 weeks, but ESA should continue to be paid.
His Housing Benefit can continue for up to 52 weeks while he is away from home due to being in hospital and expecting to return within 52 weeks of when he was admitted.
If he is well enough, he should let the ESA and HB dept know that he is in hospital. If he is too poorly to do that, perhaps you or a member of his family could report the situation on his behalf. It would be wise let his landlord know too.
Our tenant's son is a key worker. He normally lives with her, but is currently staying away from home to be closer to the hospital where he works. Will there still be a non-dependant deduction for him?
If it is just a temporary absence then he will be treated as still living with her. This would be where he is intending to return within 13 weeks. And therefore a non-dependant deduction should continue to be made (and he should continue to be allocated a bedroom too).