Who can get Incapacity Benefit?
To claim Incapacity Benefit you must be: • Unable to work due to illness or disability for at least four days in a row (including weekends and bank holidays). During the first 28 weeks of the benefit this usually means being too ill or disabled to do your normal job. Benefit is only paid beyond 28 weeks if your are regarded as too ill or disabled to do any sort of work. AND • Aged 16 or over, and under state pension age. AND • Not eligible for Statutory Sick Pay. For example, if you are self-employed, unemployed, or your Statutory Sick Pay has expired. Entitlement is usually based upon you having paid adequate National Insurance contributions. There are some exceptions to this rule. Mainly, National Insurance contributions are not needed if you claim under the age of 20 (or under 25 if you were in education or training for three months or more just before turning 20) and have been too ill or disabled to work for at least 28 weeks. If you are not sure if you qualify, then seek expert he
