§ Mr. HendersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how the planned changes to incapacity benefit will affect the entitlements of patients who suffer from severe heart conditions and strokes.
§ Mr. ScottA new, more objective, medical test of incapacity for work will apply to claims for incapacity benefit. The new test will assess, on a case-by-case basis, the incapacitating nature of a condition or combinations of conditions on the ability to work. Specific medical conditions such as strokes can have a wide range of effects from severe to very mild. We expect that those with more severe conditions would satisfy the test.