United Kingdom Statutory paternity pay: Paid by the employer for 1 or Source of Funds 2 weeks (as chosen by the employee) at £100 a week; 90% of Insured person: See source of funds under Old Age, average weekly earnings if earnings are less than £100. Disability, and Survivors, above. Statutory adoption pay: Paid by the employer for up to Employer: See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and 26 weeks at £100 a week; 90% of average weekly earnings if Survivors, above. earnings are less than £100. Government: See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, Workers’ Medical Benefits and Survivors, above. Medical services are provided by public hospitals and by Qualifying Conditions doctors and dentists under contract with, and paid directly by, the National Health Service. Benefits include general Industrial injuries disablement benefit: The insured must be practitioner care, specialist services, hospitalization, maternity employed by an employer at the time of an accident that occurs care, dental care, medicines, appliances, home nursing, and in the course of employment. The degree of disability, which family planning. must be over 14%, is assessed by medical examination. In the Cost sharing: Patients pay 80% of the cost of any dental work case of an industrial disease, the insured must have contracted up to £372. Patients pay £6.30 for each prescription. Those a prescribed disease during the course of employment. receiving means-tested benefits and their adult dependents, children under age 16 (under age 19 if a student), pregnant Temporary Disability Benefits women, and nursing mothers are exempt from dental and In the first instance, the benefit is payable for 52 weeks. The prescription charges. People over the state pension age and benefit is first payable after a 3-day waiting period for up to certain other groups are exempt from prescription charges. 28 weeks at £54.40 a week, plus £33.65 a week for a Exemption is also available to others with low income under the dependent adult. From week 29 to week 52, the benefit is National Health Service Low Income Scheme. £64.35 a week, plus £33.65 a week for a dependent adult. There is no limit on duration of benefits. Beginning the 53rd week of incapacity (or starting from the Dependents’ Medical Benefits 29th week if terminally ill and disabled for at least 28 weeks), the benefit is £72.15 a week, plus £43.15 a week for a Same as for the family head. dependent adult caring for the claimant’s child(ren) subject to certain conditions. A supplement is payable if the disability Administrative Organization began before age 45. Benefit adjustment: Pensions and allowances are increased Jobcentre Plus (part of the Department for Work and Pensions) annually according to price changes. (The amount of the administers cash benefits for people of working age and helps increase is calculated according to the retail price index from them find work. the previous September.) Department of Health administers medical benefits and Income support (social assistance): Payable when income is services through the National Health Service. below certain levels. The amount depends on income and circumstances. Income support is not payable if savings Work Injury exceed £8,000 or if the person is working more than 16 hours a week. Regulatory Framework Permanent Disability Benefits First law: 1897. Current law: 1992 (consolidated legislation). Industrial injuries disablement benefit: If assessed as 100% Type of program: Social insurance and social assistance disabled, £116.80 a week is payable from the 15th week after system. the accident or the onset of the disease. Reduced earnings allowance: Only payable for an Coverage occupational accident or disease occurring before October 1990. Up to £46.72 a week is paid if assessed as at Employed persons. least 1% disabled and unable to do the same job, resulting in Exclusion: Self-employed persons. loss of earnings. Constant-attendance allowance: Payable if assessed as 100% disabled; £23.40 or £46.80 a week depending on need; £70.20 or £93.60 a week if needs are greater.