What is Incapacity Benefit?

Incapacity Benefit is for people who cannot work and who do not get Statutory Sick pay.

To get Incapacity Benefit you must:

  • be 16 or over and under 60 if you’re a woman/under 65 if you’re a man
  • be unable to work because of sickness or disability,
  • have paid enough national insurance contributions - although if you became unfit for work before you were 20 (in some cases, 25), you do not have to meet the contribution conditions or have paid national insurance.

You must not:

  • be entitled to Statutory Sick Pay
  • have a high income from a pension or occupational pension or health insurance

Incapacity Benefit continues if you go into hospital for less than 52 weeks. The amount of incapacity benefit you get depends on how long you have been able to work and your age.

Further information