Another guide to the Employment & Support Allowance you may find useful - click here.

 As Incapacity Benefit has been replaced by the Employment & Support Allowance (ESA) you may find this guide useful.

Easy Guide to ESA click here.

If you make a new claim it will be for ESA.  Existing Incapacity Benefit claims are to be migrated to the new ESA benefit over the coming years.

Clicking on he link below should/will download the appropriate document to you computer, thus enabling you to view at your own leisure. Note we also hold a PSI license for documentation from Government.

• First Tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child Support) - How to appeal leaflet - 3rd November 2008 comes into practice.
• DLA Process overview charts - Have tried to put together as simply as I can charts showing the general process with regard to a DLA Claim through to Appeal - July 2008
• DLA556 Application Pack (10 MByte PDF Document - May take about 3-5 minutes to download, depending on internet connection.)
• DWP Form GL24 "If you think our decision is wrong" see JobCentre Web Site
• DWP Disability Handbook Feb 2008 HIV/AIDS Entry
• DWP Decision Makers Guide as at 27th Feb 2008 - Medical Evidence
• Benefit Dependencies Flow Chart
• Known DLA Personal Capability Assesment Points
• Copy of the medical report HFR (T1) the DWP send to your Doctor when they receive your initial DBD551 enquiry form. Thanks to the person who emailed me a blank copy. - 19 June 2008
• For information purposes, found by a member of T_hCell. Click here for the DWP "Guidance for Examining Medical Practitioners". Atos Origin is the company that undertake these medical's
• For information purposes, found by a member of T_hCell. Click here for the DWP "Disability Living Allowance EMP report". This is what is completed if you have a visit by a DWP Doctor or Member of Medical Services.
• Employment and Support Allowance Application form ESA50.  This replaces the IB50 form from October. If you want to read more on the Employment and Support Allowance see the Disability Alliance website.  
• Incapacity Benefit - IB50 document added - this is just the questions without the guidance. It allows you to see what Questions are asked. Note:If you receive the Higher Rate Care Component of Disability Living Allowance you are exempt from completing this form. 
• The Welfare Reform Green Paper "No one written off:reforming welfare to reward responsibility" - Click here for the DWP Consultation, Click here for the accompanying "Impact Assessment" and Click here for the leaked document. These are large PDF files. July 2008.
• Tribunal Service - Presidents Report 2007/8 - critical of ATOS, the rising level of appeal, Failure to collect proper medical evidence etc.

• Response from Anne McGuire, Minster for the Disabled received 4th March 2008
  
  
• Work and Pensions Committee Letter
• Letter sent to Emily Thornberry MP for Islington South & Finsbury from Terry Moran CEO of the Pension, Disability & Carers Service 22 May 2008.
• Letter sent to Emily Thornberry MP for Islington South & Finsbury from the Stephen Timms, MP, Minster for Welfare Reform at the Department for Work & Pensions -  22 May 2008. 

 If you currently receive Incapacity Benefit and have been sent an form IB50. If you also get the "Higher Rate" allowance for personal care of Disability Living Allowance. You should be aware of Statutory Instrument 1995 No 311. The Social Security (Incapacity for Work)(General) regulations 1995. Part II - General Provisions Relating to Incapacity for Work.

You are exempt from this process and do not have to fill in the form. Telephone your DWP office and ask them why you have been sent this.

"CHAPTER III

PERSONS TREATED AS INCAPABLE

Certain persons with a severe condition to be treated as incapable of work

          10.—(1)  A person shall be treated as incapable of work on any day on which any of the circumstances set out in paragraph (2) apply to him.

          (2)  The circumstances are—

             (a) that he is in receipt of the highest rate care component of disability living allowance;