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Not paid if you were over state pension age when you became sick
Have you:
If YES to both, claim Incapacity Benefit.
Short-term Incapacity Benefit at the lower rate
- Paid if you do not get Statutory Sick Pay and have been sick for at least four days in a row including weekends and Bank Holidays.
Short-term Incapacity Benefit at the higher rate
- Paid if you have been sick for more than 28 weeks and less than 52 weeks
Long-term Incapacity Benefit
- Paid if you have been sick for over 52 weeks.
Special circumstances
If you became sick before reaching state pension age, you may be able to get Incapacity Benefit after state pension age. It can be paid at the Retirement Pension rate for up to one year of sickness.
If you get the highest rate care component of Disability Living Allowance or you are terminally ill, you will get Incapacity Benefit paid at the long-term rate after you have been sick for 28 weeks. If you get the long-term rate of Incapacity Benefit you may qualify for extra money depending on your age when you became sick.
You may be able to get extra money for your children, but only if you were claiming the increase for a period starting before 6 April 2003 and you are entitled to short-term Incapacity Benefit at the higher rate or State Pension rate, or long-term Incapacity Benefit.
If your spouse or civil partner is aged 60 or over, or another adult cares for your children or qualifying young persons, you may be able to get extra money.
How to Claim
When to claim
Claim straight away. If you delay you may lose benefit.
Claim Form
Contact your Social Security or Jobs & Benefits office for a claim form. For your nearest Social Security or Jobs & Benefits office, look for the Social Security Agency display advert in the business numbers section of the phone book.
Filling in the form
Before you fill in your form, check that you are applying for everything you may be entitled to.
Proof of identity
It is important that we can be sure of your identity when you make a claim. We may need to ask you about your background and look at any official documents you have to support the information you give. This could be your original birth certificate, passport or other documents. You may need more than one.
If you are not sure about this, get leaflet ISSP "How to prove your identity" from your Social Security or Jobs & Benefits office.
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