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4. Help for sick and disabled workers and those injured at work
[ch 4: pages 42-43]What’s new?
• From April 2017, new employment and support allowance (ESA) claimants who are placed in the “Work-Related Activity Group” will receive the same rate of payment as those claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) and the equivalent in Universal Credit (UC) as the work-related activity group component for new claims for ESA is abolished
• In October 2016, the government announced that it would consult on changes to Work Capability Assessments
• The Department for Work and Pensions office providing specialist advice on Industrial Injury Disablement Benefit claims for mesothelioma is under threat of closure
• Claimants who are entitled to apply for Universal Credit can apply for a new style ESA
• In February 2017, the government moved to overturn tribunal rulings extending the disability benefit personal independence payment (PIP) to around 160,000 claimants, mainly those with mental health conditions
There are a number of benefits that you may be able to claim if you are sick, injured at work or disabled. What you get depends on whether you are in work when the sickness or injury occurs, your National Insurance Contributions (NICs), your age and the length of time that you are sick.
The range of benefits includes:
• Universal Credit (UC) (see Chapter 1);
• Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) — ESA replaced Incapacity Benefit for new claimants from 2011 (see Chapter 4), but see rates below for those still claiming;
• Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)— if you are off work for up to 28 weeks;
• Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB)— if you are sick or injured as a result of a workplace accident or disease or have become deaf through work;
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP) – this began to replace Disability Living Allowance in April 2013 and is for disabled people aged under the State Pension Age, whether in or out of work (see page 55);
• Attendance Allowance — for disabled people aged over the State Pension Age (see page 57)
People providing full-time care (at least 35 hours) to a disabled person may be able to claim Carers Allowance (see page 57).
Someone with an illness or disability and working may be entitled to Working Tax Credit (WTC) (see Chapter 2).
If you are sick or disabled and on a low income, you may be able to get help with housing costs through Housing Benefit (see Chapter 7).