Jobless to work ‘clearing litter’ – BBC News, 21 July 08
Incapacity Benefit claimants will all move to the new Employment Support Allowance by 2013, which ministers hope will be regarded, for all but the most disabled people, as a temporary benefit…
You can find out more about the new Employment Support Allowance here…
And the JobCenterPlus explains the Employment Support Allowance here…
What are your thoughts on the change? Leave a comment below and share your views…
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
It seems that as ever the government haven’t considered that not everyone on incapacity benefit is a scrounger who could work. I am not unemployed, I am retired early because I can no longer work, as such I can’t sign on, but do get IB. What safeguards are there for people such as myself.
Hi Barry I’ve stumbled upon a few pages on the net. Here’s what I found :
Source: http://www.lawcentreni.org/EoR/incapacity_benefit.htm
WHO CAN CLAIM?
From 27 October 2008, a person making a claim for benefit due to her/his health will not be able to claim Incapacity Benefit unless s/he falls within the exceptions listed already on page four. Instead s/he must claim ESA.
To successfully claim Incapacity Benefit, a person must:
make the claim relating to a period before 27 October 2008 or linked to an earlier Incapacity Benefit claim; and
be incapable of work; and
be in a period of incapacity for work (PIW) unless incapable of work in youth; and
have made a claim and submitted evidence of incapacity; and
be over sixteen; and
be under pensionable age (60 for women, 65 for men) or have deferred retirement pension or de-retired (Note: a person over pensionable age is not entitled to long term Incapacity Benefit; however, if s/he has deferred retirement pension or de-retired and satisfied incapacity conditions before s/he reached pension age, s/he is entitled to the short-term rate of Incapacity Benefit) as long as s/he is no more than five years over pensionable age; and
have no entitlement to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP); and
satisfy the contribution conditions, unless incapable of work in youth.
Benefit is normally payable after three waiting days and is paid fortnightly in arrears. A person who receives Incapacity Benefit because of incapacity for work in youth does not have to serve these waiting days.
I hope that helps.