Incapacity means test?

I am very confused and distressed, can anybody help to shed some light on this? I have heard that incapacity benefit and whichever new benefit this becomes or merges with is to be means tested? I am married and have been in receipt of incapacity for many years, also I receive high rate DLA through no fault of my own (a medical negligence accident) My husband is my carer but does work, and so I believe that I will no longer be entitled to the new benefit / incapacity? Is DLA safe from the cuts? This is all very unsettling and I'm sure making other people's conditions worse too. I saw my MP recently who assuted me that genuine cases of those unfit for any type of work would be 'looked after'??!!


Mod Edit As more of a question than discussion topic, posting moved to benefits questions forum.

pete17971
moderating team

Hi,

Incapacity Benefit remains non means Tested. If you currently claim Incapacity Benefit, at sime point starting next year you would be migrated to Contribution Based ESA, then Income Based ESA.

The Government have said one can only stay a maximum of one year on Contribution Based ESA if one is placed in thr Work Related Activity Group. After this one year one would move to Income Based ESA or JSA. There is some confusion as to when this year actually starts though, so watch this space as being on IB for over a year maybe counted within the year, or it may not, this subject is not at all clear,


If you are placed into the Support Group of ESA thee is no time limits and one can claim Contribution based ESA indefinitely whilst in the Support Group.

DLA is not affected by the ESA changes, but all DLA claimants of working age are to be reassessed begining 2013.

Pete