If you can't work because of illness or disability you may be able to get Incapacity Benefit (IB), a weekly payment for people who become incapable of work while under State Pension age.
You may be able to claim Incapacity Benefit if any of the following apply to you:
You must also have been:
or you must:
Living or working abroad can affect your Incapacity Benefit claim. But you may be able to claim if you've either:
You may be able to claim Incapacity Benefit even if you haven't paid enough National Insurance contributions if:
If you're in the Armed Forces or you live and work within the European Economic Area (EEA), you may still be treated as being resident in the UK.
Incapacity Benefit is paid at three weekly rates:
Current weekly amounts
| Weekly rate | Amount | Amount if you're over State Pension age |
|---|---|---|
| short-term (lower rate) | £63.75 | £81.10 |
| short-term (higher rate) | £75.40 | £84.50 |
| long-term basic rate | £84.50 | You're not eligible for long-term basic rate IB |
You may be able to get an 'age addition' with your long-term Incapacity Benefit if you were under 45 when you became too ill or disabled to work.
You may be able to get extra benefit for your spouse or civil partner or the person who looks after your children.
Incapacity Benefit is paid into your bank, building society, Post Office or National Savings account - in other words, any account that accepts Direct Payment.
If you're registered blind or need someone who cares for you to collect your money, your payment can be sent by cheque to be cashed at the Post Office.
When you make a claim for Incapacity Benefit, you will usually have a Personal Capability Assessment. As part of this, a doctor may recommend that you attend a medical examination.
If you receive Incapacity Benefit, you may be able to do some types of work - within limits. This is called Permitted Work. If you earn money while you get Incapacity Benefit, this could affect income-related benefits you receive, like Income Support, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit.
You can claim Incapacity Benefit online or get a claim form by:
It's important to contact your local Jobcentre Plus office if your circumstances change - for example if:
For more information please contact your local Jobcentre Plus office.
If you're refused Incapacity Benefit or if you have questions about your payment, you can ask the office that dealt with your claim to look again at their decision. If you're still unhappy with the outcome, you can appeal.