Guidance

A short guide to the benefit system for general practitioners

A short guide to the benefit system for GPs and other healthcare practitioners.

• From: Department for Work and Pensions
• Published: 21 August 2013
• Last updated: 17 August 2021
  Show all updates

  1. 17 August 2021

     Corrected the guidance to explain you can no longer make a new claim for contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), income-related ESA, Income Support, contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) or income-based JSA.

  2. 31 March 2020

     Updated the short guide to the benefit system for general practitioners. Added a new section 'Money help and debt advice' and updated sections on: ESA, JSA, UC, UC for carers, help to return to or stay in work and contact details.

  3. 10 September 2019

     Clarified when GPs should complete form DS1500 for patients claiming benefits under the special rules for terminal illness.

  4. 22 August 2019

     HTML version of the benefits system: a short guide for GPs added to attachments for accessibility.

  5. 8 July 2019

     Published updated version (now dated July 2019) with information about a revised ESA65B letter.

  6. 19 March 2018

     Published revised version with updated benefit information.

  7. 21 August 2013

     First published.

This publication was withdrawn on 29 June 2022

This guidance is out of date. Read other guidance for healthcare professionals.

Documents

The benefit system: A short guide for GPs

HTML

Details

This guide is aimed at general practitioners (GPs) but other doctors and healthcare professionals in both primary and secondary care may find it useful. The guide explains the main benefits and services provided by DWP.