How many points for incapacity benefit

Back Get Support In this section, you will find the Benefits Calculator; Grants Search; details about Turn2us' direct grant-giving funds; and links to other sources of information and help. Back Support Us In this section you will find information on how you can get involved with supporting Turn2us and the work we do. Back Working With Us In this section you will find information aimed at charity fund providers and those working with people in financial need.

Back About Us Turn2us helps people in financial need gain access to welfare benefits, charitable grants and other financial help — online, by phone and face to face through our partner organisations. Incapacity Benefit - What is Incapacity Benefit? What is Incapacity Benefit? Applies: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland Incapacity Benefit claims to be reassessed If you currently get Incapacity Benefit, your claim is to be reassessed to see whether you are now fit to work.

Following the abolishment of Incapacity Benefit for new claims from 27 October , at some point you will be re-assessed under the 'work capability assessment' unless you reach state pesion age first , and if you are found to have 'limited capability for work' under this assessment you will be moved onto Employment and Support Allowance.

Your claim will be reassessed if you are getting one of the following benefits:. Jobcentre Plus will write to you when your benefit claim is going to be reviewed. Not everyone will be contacted at the same time. This started in October and was expected to be completed by but there are some people still receiving these benefits.

Until your claim is reviewed you will continue to get your current benefit, as long as you still meet the conditions for that benefit. If you have forgotten your password, please enter your email address and we'll send you instructions:. To find out more about entitledto's services for see our product page or contact us. To register please enter the name of your organisation, its website address and your work email address.

To find out more about entitledto's services for organisations see our product page or contact us. It's free to register with entitledto. If you provide advice please click on 'I am helping someone else'. Consider how long it takes you to deal with the activities of daily living and how long it takes you to move around outdoors. Do not guess at the time taken; ask someone to time this for you. If your condition varies, try to give an idea of how many days a week you would be able to do the task, and how many you would not.

Think about keeping a diary for a few days and to write down all the day-to-day activities that you have difficulties doing. Page 3 on the ESA50 form asks you about any help you would need if you have to go to a face-to-face assessment. Page 11 is about other people communicating with you. This activity is relevant if you have hearing or visual problems. Page 11 also considers getting around safely. This may also apply if you have visual problems:. Page 12 deals with bladder and bowel management.

This is one of the most difficult parts of the questionnaire to complete because the questions are of such a personal nature.

Do try to put down as much information as you can:. Page 12 also considers staying conscious when awake. This section covers seizures and absences that occur when you are awake. It also includes diabetic hypos:. Part two of the questionnaire deals with Mental, Cognitive and Intellectual functions. This means things like:. Before you start to fill in the questionnaire, make a list of any difficulties your hydrocephalus, or other condition, cause you. These circumstances are: The full details of the activities, descriptors and points for assessing limited capability for work are set out in Schedule 2 to the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations , SI No.

The structure is similar to the PCA. There are two lists of activities: one for physical health, one for mental health. Various changes relative to the current PCA have been made to the physical health descriptors, including the removal of all the 3 point scoring ones i. The mental health test has been extensively revised, with the list of activities considerably expanded, and scores of 0, 6, 9 or 15 used.

Descriptors describe different levels of limitation in each activity, and each descriptor carries a points score. In each activity, the highest scoring descriptor that applies to the claimant is awarded, then the points from all the activities are added up.

Points may be scored in one or more activities, and the scores from the physical and mental health tests are simply aggregated - the PCA rule that points from the mental health test are added to the physical health score only if between 6 and 9 points are scored is not used.

The threshold score for satisfying the test is 15 points. Rules on how points are actually scored 13 are similar to the PCA. Limitations must in general be because of a specific bodily disease or disablement, a specific mental illness or disablement, or as a direct result of medical treatment from a registered doctor for that - although there is not a specific requirement that points in the physical and mental health tests are due, respectively to physical or mental disablement.

Points are awarded taking into account ability when using any aid, or appliance that the claimant normally uses. The rules do not make any overall provision regarding things like good days and bad days, pain and tiredness.

Arguably, much of the case law regarding these that has arisen in connection with the PCA should apply to the Work Capability Assessment. It is intended that the assessment will take place during the initial 13 week 'assessment phase' of an ESA claim.

The assessment process will be similar to that of the PCA. Information will be sought from the claimants' doctor and, unless they are identified as 'exempt', they will be sent a questionnaire an ESA50 to complete and return. In most cases i.

It is understood that where a claimant is required to attend a medical, the intention is to arrange for that as soon as possible and the experience of this may be faster than for some current incapacity claimants.

At the medical, the same examining health professional will also apply two other elements of the Work Capability Assessment - i. At time of writing, work was still progressing on redesign of various forms and notices used in the process, but it is understood that they will be fundamentally similar to those used in the PCA, albeit with the 'ESA' prefix used instead of 'IB' - e.

One difference is that the claimant will automatically be sent a copy of the report on the work-focused health-related assessment as will the person who conducts work-focused interviews with them , along with a covering letter explaining what the report is and what it is intended to help with.