Incapacity Benefit
You can't normally make a new claim for Incapacity Benefit after 27 October 2008. You will normally have to claim Employment and Support Allowance instead. However, in some unusual circumstances, you might still be able to make a new claim for Incapacity Benefit if you are getting Income Support on grounds of disability. The normal conditions for getting Incapacity Benefit would still apply.
Incapacity Benefit is paid at different rates, depending on how long someone has been getting it. Lower rate short-term Incapacity Benefit is paid for the first 196 days of sickness and is not taxable. Higher rate short-term Incapacity Benefit is paid for the next six months and long-term Incapacity Benefit is paid after a year. You can get extra money if you have dependants.
You may get less than the full rate of Incapacity Benefit if you are getting an occupational or personal pension or money from an insurance policy for physical or mental illness. If you carry on getting Incapacity Benefit once you reach state pension age, the rate you get may also be reduced.