Incapacity Benefit

Key information

Incapacity Benefit is money for people who cannot work because they are sick or disabled. You cannot make a new claim for Incapacity Benefit. This is because Incapacity Benefit has been replaced by Employment and Support Allowance.

Applies: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Index

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Incapacity Benefit claims to be reassessed

If you currently get Incapacity Benefit, your claim is to be reassessed to see whether you are now fit to work.

The assessment will be carried out by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and will take place by March 2014.

After the assessment, depending on your circumstances, you may move onto one of the following benefits:

Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) if you are capable of work
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) if you are not capable of work
Income Support or Pension Credit if you satisfy the conditions

You will not be reassessed if:

You are already getting Employment and Support Allowance
You reach state retirement age before March 2014

Click here for more information on how the reassessment of incapacity benefits process will work

Further help

For general enquiries about Incapacity Benefit, call the Benefit Enquiry Helpline on: 0800 882 200.

CAB logo This information has been produced by Citizens Advice.

Last updated: 7 January 2013

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