21b7e97b-310f-4cde-be7d-bd17b38874b1

Incapacity Benefit Claimants, Borough

<p>Incapacity Benefit (IB) replaced Sickness Benefit and Invalidity Benefit from
13 April 1995. It is paid to people who are assessed as being incapable of
work and who meet certain contribution conditions.
</p>
<p>There are three rates of Incapacity Benefit. There are two short-term rates:
the lower rate (IBST(L)) is paid for the first 28 weeks of sickness and the
higher rate (IBST(H)) for weeks 29 to 52. The long-term rate (IBLT) applies to
people who have been sick for more than a year. The higher short-term rate and
the long-term rate are treated as taxable income. For the first 28 weeks of
incapacity, people previously in work are assessed on the ‘own occupation’
test, i.e. the claimant’s ability to do their own job. Otherwise incapacity is
based on the ‘personal capability assessment’ (formerly ‘all work test’),
which assesses ability to carry out a range of work-related activities. The
test applies after 28 weeks of incapacity or from the start of the claim for
people who did not previously have a job. Certain people are exempt from the
personal capability assessment. These include, those in receipt of the
Disability Living Allowance care component at the higher rate, those
registered blind, and those suffering from a severe illness (for example
tetraplegia, persistent vegetative state, dementia).
</p>
<p>Increases are paid for a dependant who is caring for a child or where the
spouse is aged 60 or over. Increases for children are paid with the short-term
higher rate and with the long-term rate. With the introduction of the new
Child Tax Credit on 6 April 2003 no new child dependency increases were
awarded, although all existing increases were transitionally protected. An age
addition is paid with the long-term rate.
</p>

Department for Work and Pensions

2015-09-26 14:27:26

Quarterly

Department for Work and Pensions

ckan

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