Severe Disablement Allowance
Severe Disablement Allowance is being replaced with Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
If you鈥檙e already claiming Severe Disablement Allowance and you鈥檙e under State Pension age, you鈥檒l be reassessed to see if you鈥檙e eligible to get ESA instead.
If you鈥檝e reached State Pension age, you鈥檒l continue to get Severe Disablement Allowance unless your circumstances change.
If you鈥檙e reassessed
Jobcentre Plus will send you a questionnaire. This will ask you how your illness or disability affects your ability to complete everyday tasks.
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Complete this questionnaire and return it by the deadline. Include original medical reports or letters that are relevant - you鈥檒l get these back.
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Jobcentre Plus will tell you if you need a face-to-face Work Capability Assessment - you must go.
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If the reassessment shows you鈥檙e capable of working, your Severe Disablement Allowance will stop. Jobcentre Plus will discuss your next steps, including claiming Jobseeker鈥檚 Allowance.
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If the reassessment shows you cannot work, you鈥檒l be transferred automatically onto ESA.
Working and Severe Disablement Allowance
Your Severe Disablement Allowance is not usually affected if you:
- do volunteer work
- work for less than 16 hours a week on average and earn no more than 拢183.50 a week
- work and earn no more than 拢183.50 a week, if your work is done as part of a treatment programme or is supervised by someone from a local council or voluntary organisation
- work and earn no more than 拢183.50 a week and are exempt from personal capability assessment
This is called 鈥榩ermitted work鈥�.
If your circumstances change
Tell the Jobcentre Plus office dealing with your claim if your circumstances change - this can affect how much you get.
You must also tell them if you start any kind of permitted work.
The benefit cap
The benefit cap limits the total amount of benefit you can get. It applies to most people aged 16 or over who have not reached State Pension age.
Some individual benefits are not affected, but it may affect the total amount of benefit you get.