Capacity has to be submitted. Benefit is not usually paid for the first three days of a period of incapacity for work or for isolated days of incapacity.
Amounts payable
The standard weekly rates are:
man or woman (except a married woman) £14-70
married woman
£10.50
A married woman may be paid the £14-70 rate if she is living with her husband and he is receiving invalidity or retirement pension or unemployment sup- plement; or if she is entitled to an increase of benefit for her husband; or if she is living apart from her husband and receiving less than £4-20 a week from him towards her support.
Increases payable weekly for dependants are:
wife/adult dependant
first child
each other child
£9.10
£3·50; and \ £2·20 for each child from April 1978 £3.00
when child benefit is increased
No increase is payable for a wife (or other adult female dependant) whose net earnings are more than £9-10 a week. But if she is an adult female dependant employed to care for the beneficiary's child her earnings may not affect the increase.
Earnings-related supplement may also be paid with sickness benefit-see page 9.
People who defer retirement and who satisfy the contribution conditions for sickness benefit may be entitled to sickness benefit during periods of in- capacity for work up to age 70 (65 for women). The rate of benefit payable is the basic rate of retirement pension which would be payable if the claimant had retired.
Sickness benefit is not taxable.
How to claim
When sick and incapable of work a doctor's statement should be obtained on the first visit to the doctor. The statement should be completed (clearly indicating on the back any dependants for whom a claim is being made) and sent to the local social security office within six days of becoming incapable of work.
Further information: Leaflet NI16.
Social workers
Social workers give personal help and advice to individuals and families who are in difficulties due to illness, disablement, family stress and domestic crises.
Further information: Social workers can be contacted through the local authority social services department.
Supplementary benefit
Supplementary benefit is a non-contributory benefit. It is payable to anyone aged 16 or over who has left school and is not in full-time work to the
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