ESA and hospital stays

I have a basic understanding of this topic in that you must inform DWP of any hospital stay as an in patient. I understand that it only really affects matters after 28 days in hospital or 28 days within a 52 week period.


Question I need to ask is: after the 28 days threshold is passed does ESA stop and therefore one would need to claim U/C on leaving hospital? i.e. would it be a change if circs triggering forced migration to U/C? Secondly, if not, do the ESA rules mean your claim would re start on leaving hospital and informing them i.e similar to the old rapid re claim on certain benefits when that benefit had been interrupted rather than stopped.
Lastly, how would such a hospital claim affect PIP? Would the claim merely be suspended after 28 days and re start on discharge once DWP were informed or would it require a new PIP medical?

Many thanks Gordon. As ever I bow to your superior erudition;) I was certain I'd read on the yearly ESA uprate forms ( and the forms when I was initially migrated to ESA) that you must inform DWP if you are away from your home even for just one night and this included hospital in patient stays....Must have read that on DLA/PIP uprate forms.Thanks anyway