Turn2us - to access benefits & grants.

Incapacity Benefit

Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

Who does it help?

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 abolished for new claims, except in very limited cases.   If you cannot work because you are sick or disabled, you can claim a different benefit instead, called Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).  If you are already getting Incapacity Benefit, you will carry on getting it as long as you still qualify. 

Is it means-tested?

It does not usually matter if you have other income or savings. But you might get less Incapacity Benefit if you have money coming from a pension or health insurance policy.  

What help does the benefit provide?

Incapacity Benefit is money that that you can spend as you want.  It is usually paid into your bank or building society account.  You can be paid at a post office in some cases.

How much does it pay?

There are three rates of Incapacity Benefit. The rate you get depends on how long you have been unable to work:

• short-term (lower) Incapacity Benefit is paid for the first 28 weeks.  It is £68.95 a week. It is £87.75 if you are over state pension age.
• short-term (higher) Incapacity Benefit is paid from weeks 29 to 52.  It is £81.60 a week (£91.40 if you're over state pension age).
• long-term Incapacity Benefit is paid from week 53. It is £91.40 a week.

You may be able to get extra money with your long-term Incapacity Benefit if you were under 45 when you became too ill or disabled to work. You may also be able to get extra money for your husband, wife, or civil partner or the person who looks after your children.

Is it a taxable benefit?

Incapacity Benefit is not a taxable benefit for the first 28 weeks. After the first 28 weeks, it is a taxable benefit. You must tell your tax office when you get Incapacity Benefit after 28 weeks.

How to claim

You cannot make a new claim for Incapacity Benefit.

You may be able to claim backdated Incapacity Benefit for up to three months. You do not have to give a reason for the delay in claiming backdated Incapacity Benefit.

Documents you need

You have to give your national insurance number and evidence of who you are, for example, a driving licence or birth certificate.

For the first week, a signed statement from you that you cannot work should be accepted as evidence that you are not able to work. This is known as a self-certificate. Form SC1 acts as a self-certificate for people who claim Incapacity Benefit straight away.

After seven days of being off sick, or if you claim later than this, you will need a medical certificate from your doctor.  Send this to the Department for Work and Pensions..

Later on, if you are still claiming, you will need to be assessed to show you still cannot work. This might mean a medical examination.

Further help

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

The Citizens Advice (link opens in a new window) website can give you more information about Incapacity Benefit.

Directgov, the government website, (link opens in a new window) has more information about Incapacity Benefit

Find an adviser tool.

See Long-term illness and disability and Useful links.

This information has been produced by Citizens Advice. 

Updated: 10 February 2009