Incapacity Benefit is a benefit paid to people aged 16 and over who cannot work because of illness or disability.

You can get Incapacity Benefit (IB) if you are sick/disabled and unable to work. If you are age 20 and over you will usually have to have paid enough National Insurance (NI) contributions in the certain tax years to qualify

If you are under age 20 (in certain circumstances under age 25) you do not have to have paid NI contributions.

There are also special rules if you are a widow or widower and your spouse died before 9 April 2001 or you are a pensioner who has deferred retirement (or de-retired) you were incapable of work before your retirement age and you now claim Incapacity Benefit. You should get advice if any of these apply.

Your IB will be reduced if you have an occupational pension of over £85 per week. There are some exceptions to this rule.

Although you must be incapable of work to get this benefit you are allowed to do certain work.

If you start full time work of 16 hours or more, or a training course for which you receive a training allowance, you can go back to your old rate of Incapacity Benefit if you become sick during the next 52 weeks.

To qualify for this you must notify the Department for Work and Pensions that you have started work or training within a month of your benefit stopping (if you start work it is important that you tell them as soon as possible to avoid an overpayment of benefits). You will be classed as a "welfare to work" beneficiary and should receive a letter confirming this.

How to claim

You should contact your local Jobcentre plus office for further information and a claim pack.

Changes to Incapacity Benefit

Please note: The Government intends to scrap Incapacity Benefit (IB) for new claimants in 2008.

www.rnid.org.uk/information_resources/factsheets/benefits/factsheets_leaflets/incapacity_for_work.htm

Carlisle Jobcentre Plus
Broadacre House
Lowther Street
Carlisle
CA3 8DA
Telephone: 01228 829700

Jobcentre Plus Office
Copeland Centre
Catherine Street
Whitehaven
CA28 7SJ
Telephone: 01946 854000

Jobcentre Plus Office
Simon House
197-199 Vulcans Lane
Workington
CA14 3BL
Telephone: 01900 608800

Jobcentre Plus Office
Craven House
Michaelson Road
Barrow in Furness
LA14 1AB
Telephone: 01229 842700

Jobcentre Plus Office
Kentmere House
1 Blackhall Road
Kendal
LA9 4BS
Telephone: 01539 795000

Citizens' Advice Bureau and Community Law Centres can also help with filling in forms and advice, which is free.

Citizens' Advice Bureau (free legal advice)

There are CAB's in the following areas:-

• Alston
• Appleby-in-Westmorland
• Barrow-in-Furness
• Carlisle
• Cleator Moor
• Egremont
• Keswick
• Maryport
• Wigton
• Workington

To find out the addresses and opening times, please click on the following link:-

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/getadvice

Community Law Centre (free legal advice)

For Carlisle the Community Law Centre is at 8 Spencer Street, Carlisle, CA1 1BG.  They are open Mondays to Fridays from 10.00 a.m. until 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. until 4.00 p.m.  You can telephone for an appointment or pop in and make an appointment.  Unfortunately, they cannot fund Sign Language interpreters.  The telephone no. is 01228 515129.

For Copeland area the Community Law Centre is at The Senhouse Centre, Whitehaven, CA28 7ES,  They are open from 10.00 a.m. until 12.30 p.m. on Tuesdays only.

For Allerdale area the Community Law Centre is at West Cumbria Trades Hall Centre 39 Brow Top, Workington, CA14 5DP.  They are open from 1.30 p.m. until 4.00 p.m. on Tuesdays only.

The Community Law Centre also has a mobile bus which will visit:

Maryport: In the Co-op Car Park at 10.00 a.m. until 12 noon (Mondays only)

Cockermouth: In the Wilkinson's car park at 2.00 p.m. until 4.00 p.m. (Mondays only)

Cleator Moor: Outside the Library at 10.00 a.m. until 12 noon (Wednesdays only)

The mobile bus does not visit Maryport, Cockermouth and Cleator Moor every week.  You will need to contact the Community Law Centre in Carlisle to find out which dates the mobile bus will visit these areas.