[F130B Incapacity benefit: rate.E+W+S
(1)The amount payable by way of incapacity benefit in respect of any day is 1/7th of the appropriate weekly rate.
(2)Subject to the following provisions of this section, the weekly rate of short-term incapacity benefit is the lower or higher rate specified in Schedule 4, Part I, paragraph 2.
The benefit is payable at the lower rate so specified for the first 196 days of entitlement in any period of incapacity for work and at the higher rate so specified thereafter.
(3)In the case of a person over pensionable age the weekly rate of short-term incapacity benefit is, subject to subsection (4) below, that at which the relevant retirement pension referred to in section 30A(2)(b) above would have been payable.
But in determining that rate any increase of the following descriptions shall be disregarded—
(a)any increase [F2(for married people [F3or civil partners]) under section 51A(2)] below or (for deferred retirement) under Schedule 5 to this Act;
F4(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(c)any increase (for Category A or Category B pensioners) under section 150 of the Administration Act (annual up-rating) of the sums mentioned in subsection (1)(e) of that section.
(4)In the case of a person who has been entitled to short-term incapacity benefit for 196 days or more in any period of incapacity for work and—
(a)is terminally ill, or
(b)he is entitled to the highest rate of the care component of disability living allowance,
the weekly rate of short-term incapacity benefit payable, if greater than the rate otherwise payable to him under subsection (2) or (3) above, shall be equal to the rate at which long-term incapacity benefit under section 30A above would be payable to him if he were entitled to it.
For the purposes of this subsection a person is terminally ill if he suffers from a progressive disease and his death in consequence of that disease can reasonably be expected within 6 months.
(5)References to short-term incapacity benefit at the higher rate shall be construed as including short-term incapacity benefit payable to any person who has been entitled to that benefit for 196 days or more in a period of incapacity for work, notwithstanding that the rate of benefit is determined in accordance with subsection (3) or (4) above.
(6)Subject as follows, the weekly rate of long-term incapacity benefit under section 30A above is that specified in Schedule 4, Part I, paragraph 2A.
(7)Regulations may provide that if a person is, on the qualifying date in relation to a period of incapacity for work, under such age as may be prescribed, the rate of long-term incapacity benefit under section 30A above payable to him in respect of any day in that period shall be increased by such amount as may be prescribed.
For this purpose “the qualifying date” means the first day of the period of incapacity for work or such earlier day as may be prescribed.
[F5(8)This section has effect subject to sections 30DD (reduction for pension payments) and section 30E (reduction for councillor’s allowance) below.]]
Textual Amendments
F1S. 30B inserted (18.11.1994 for specified purposes, 13.4.1995 in so far as not already in force) by Social Security (Incapacity for Work) Act 1994 (c. 18), ss. 2(1), 16(3); S.I. 1994/2926, art. 2(2), Sch. Pt. 2 (with The Social Security (Incapacity Benefit) (Transitional) Regulations 1995 (S.I. 1995/310))
F2Words in s. 30B(3) substituted (19.7.1995) by Pensions Act 1995 (c. 26), s. 180(2)(a), Sch. 4 para. 21(3)
F3Words in s. 30B(3)(a) inserted (5.12.2005) by Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c. 33), s. 263(8)(d), Sch. 24 para. 15; S.I. 2005/3175, art. 2(1), Sch. 1
F4S. 30B(3)(b) repealed (6.4.2010 with savings until 6.4.2020) by Pensions Act 2007 (c. 22), ss. 4(4), 27(4)(b), Sch. 1 para. 12, Sch. 7 Pt. 2 (with s. 4(5)-(8))
F5S. 30B(8) added (3.11.2000 for specified purposes, 6.4.2001 in so far as not already in force) by Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 (c. 30), s. 89(1), Sch. 8 para. 22; S.I. 2000/2958, art. 2(3)(e)(4)(5)