News

Invalidity benefit to be restructured

Invalidity benefit has recently come under the spotlight. Intended to provide long term support for those unable to work through chronic illness, invalidity benefit is being claimed by more and more people — up from 600,000 in 1978/9 to almost 1.5 million today.

In the government’s view the impact of the claimant’s medical condition on the award of benefit has diminished as Appeal Commissioners and the courts allowed age, education, experience and other personal factors to influence this decision. Given this leeway GPs, whose certificates initiate the process of awarding benefit, have interpreted invalidity benefit regulations liberally - to the advantage of their patients.

The government believes that the criteria for issuing certificates of incapacity leave too much discretion to the GP, and that not all claimants receiving the benefit are really incapable of any form of work. A new test of medical incapacity is proposed to overcome this and reduce the number of awards made.

The GP’s role as gatekeeper to the benefit will end, with medical certificates restricted to a statement of diagnosis and the major disabling effects of the condition. The claimant will be asked to provide information on how their medical problem affects their ability to work, and doctors from the Benefits Agency medical service will provide medical advice and carry out examinations, where necessary. Skill, education age and work experience will no longer be taken into account.

The Benefits Agency has been careful to avoid criticism of its methods in developing this new approach to what will be called ‘incapacity benefit’. A 16 item score of functional ability has emerged from expert analyses of recent research. A trial of the system is planned in which a sample of current claimants will be called for examination and asked to complete a questionnaire containing the score items.

Consultation on ‘incapacity benefit’ is currently in progress. healthmatters readers wishing to contribute their views should write to Ben Aylott, DSS, The Adelphi (Sixth floor), 1-11 John Adam St, London WC2N 6HT, for a copy of the consultation document.