This benefit is for people who are severely disabled but who claimed before 9th April 2001.
From 9th April 2001 Severe Disablement Allowance was abolished for new claimants. If you have continued getting Severe Disablement Allowance, you can usually keep getting it. However, it stops if you are found fit for work, or if you start to get certain other benefits like state pension or carer's allowance, if they are paid at a higher rate.
You can have a short break in your claim, of less than 8 weeks, and still re-claim Severe Disablement Allowance. If you are moving from 'welfare to work', under special linking rules, you can try a job and still re-claim Severe Disablement Allowance for up to 52 weeks or two years. Get advice.
Severe Disablement Allowance is based on the same 'incapacity for work test' that is used for long-term claims for Incapacity Benefit or Income Support. It is paid if you had been unable to work for at least 28 weeks in a row because of illness or disability and you are still unable to work now.
Disabled young people can now claim a non-contributory version of Incapacity Benefit. Young people who got Severe Disablement Allowance before 9th April 2001 transferred onto Incapacity Benefit at the long-term rate in April 2002.
Update: Pathways to Work from April 2006. The scheme to help people on disability-based benefits move back into work.
Need more help? Live in Manchester? Send us an email or book an appointment with the Online Adviser
Information on other websites
Jobcentre Plus
Government information about Severe Disablement Allowance
Adviceguide
Information from Citizen's Advice about Severe Disablement Allowance
Need more help? Live in Manchester? Send us an email
Information Provider:
Manchester Advice
Date Reviewed:
7 July 2006
This information is for guidance only and is not an authoritative statement on the law. Please read our Terms and Conditions.
FeedbackDid you find this page useful? Yes or No