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How eligibility for State Incapacity Benefit is assessed For the
first 8 weeks of claiming, you will be assessed against your ability
to perform your own job on the basis of certificates provided by
your doctor. However, after 28 weeks, you will be required to complete
a lengthy medical questionnaire and may be asked to undergo a medical
test to assess whether you are fit for any occupation - not just
the one you were following at the time you fell ill. The medical
assessment determines your ability to carry out a series of activities
related to your work. The first stage - the questionnaire - asks
about your abilities in 15 different functional areas, as follows:
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Walking
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Sitting
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Rising from sitting
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Manual dexterity
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Lifting and carrying
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Speech
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Vision
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Fits
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Climbing stairs
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Standing
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Bending and kneeling
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Mental health
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Reaching
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Hearing
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Continence
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For each function there is a list of statements and you are asked
to tick the one that best describes your ability in that area. Each
statement has an associated score. A score of 15 points is required
to qualify for Incapacity Benefit.
Mental health is examined according to different criteria and the
qualification threshold for Incapacity Benefit is 10 points.
Having completed the questionnaire, you are asked for a signed
statement from your GP which sets out the diagnosis of your condition
and its disabling effects. You may then be required to undergo a
medical examination by a Benefit Agency Medical Services (BAMS)
doctor to determine whether or not you "pass" the test.
No one can be found capable of work by the test without a medical
examination having taken place, or being offered. There is also
a right of appeal.
Please contact us to arrange a meeting if
you wish to discuss your protection requirements.
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