This is for people under State pension age whose employers do not pay Statutory Sick Pay, or who are self-employed, unemployed or non-employed. To qualify, you must satisfy certain criteria regarding your National Insurance contributions. There are various rates at which the benefit is paid:

short-term Incapacity Benefit at the lower rate for up to 28 weeks;

short-term Incapacity Benefit at the higher rate from weeks 29 to 52;

long-term Incapacity Benefit after the end of 52 weeks (this is the highest rate).

If you are not expected to recover from your cancer then after 28 weeks you may qualify for the long-term rate. Depending on how serious your cancer is, you may find you are advised to apply for this level of benefit by virtue of the very nature of your treatment and the uncertainty which often surrounds the prognosis for someone being treated for cancer. It can still come as a shock to be classified as ‘terminally ill’ for the purpose of State benefits – do not feel you are being written off.

Any savings you or your wife or partner have do not affect your entitlement to Incapacity Benefit. However, this benefit does count towards your ‘taxable income’.

If you do not qualify for Incapacity Benefit because you have not paid enough National Insurance contributions, you may be entitled to Severe Disablement Allowance.

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