DISABILITY BENEFITS

ATTENDANCE ALLOWANCE

What is Attendance Allowance?

If you have a long-term illness or disability and you have reached state pension age, you may be entitled to receive Attendance Allowance (AA).

The current lower weekly rate of Attendance Allowance is £69.50 (2025/2026).

The current higher weekly rate of Attendance Allowance is £103.65 (2025/2026).

Who can claim Attendance Allowance? 

 You can claim Attendance Allowance if one of the following applies:

• You are severely mentally or physically disabled and require frequent attention from others with basic daily living activities
• You need continual supervision during the day, or another person to be awake during the night to watch over you, in order to avoid substantial danger to yourself or others
• You are terminally ill (i.e., you have a life expectancy of 12 months or less)

Basic qualifying conditions

To qualify for the lower rate of Attendance Allowance you must:

• During the day - need frequent help with daily living activities (such as getting out of bed, washing, dressing or going to the toilet), or continual supervision to prevent substantial danger to yourself or others

or

• During the night – need prolonged or repeated attention in connection with bodily functions or someone awake to watch over you at frequent intervals or prolonged periods to prevent substantial danger to yourself or others. 

You must also:

• Be ordinarily resident and present in the Isle of Man when you make your claim for Attendance Allowance
• Have been present in the Isle of Man or in the UK for at least 104 weeks within the 156 weeks immediately before you make your claim
• Have had care or supervision needs as described above for the six months immediately before you make your claim and expect the care needs to continue for at least the six months following your claim

To qualify for the higher rate of Attendance Allowance you must:

• Need this help during the day and night, or be terminally ill with a life expectancy of six months or less

You must also:

• Be ordinarily resident and present in the Isle of Man when you make your claim for Attendance Allowance
• Have been present in the Isle of Man or in the UK for at least 104 weeks within the 156 weeks immediately before you make your claim
• Have had care or supervision needs as described above both during the day and the night for the six months immediately before you make your claim and expect the care needs to continue for at least the six months following your claim

How to claim Attendance Allowance

To claim Attendance Allowance you will need to complete an Attendance Allowance claim form.

This can be obtained by contacting the Disability Benefits Team.

Disability Benefits Team

Markwell House

Market Street

Douglas

IM1 2RZ

Telephone: 01624 685656

Email: disabilitybenefits@gov.im

You should claim Attendance Allowance as soon as you need help, or straightaway if you are terminally ill.

If you need assistance with completing your form, Crossroads provides a service to help with this. For more information, please contact Crossroads.

What happens next?

Once the form has been completed and sent to the Disability Benefits Team, you will receive a letter stating whether you can claim Attendance Allowance and which weekly rate you will receive.

If you are turned down or are unhappy with the decision made, you can appeal the decision. 

DISABILITY LIVING ALLOWANCE (DLA)

What is Disability Living Allowance?

If you have a disability, long-term illness or are terminally ill and you haven’t reached state pension age, you may be entitled to receive Disability Living Allowance.

If you have a child with a disability, long-term illness or is terminally ill, they may qualify for Disability Living Allowance.

You do not have to have paid National Insurance to qualify for Disability Living Allowance and it is not means-tested.

There are two components of Disability Living Allowance: care and mobility. You may be entitled to receive either or both of these depending on your condition.

Care component

The current lower weekly rate is £27.50 (2025/2026).

The current middle weekly rate is £69.50 (2025/2026).

The current higher weekly rate is £103.65 (2025/2026).

Mobility component

The current lower weekly rate is £27.50 (2025/2026).

The current higher weekly rate is £77.05 (2025/2026).

Who can claim Disability Living Allowance?

You may be able to claim Disability Living Allowance if all the following apply:

• You are ordinarily resident and present in the Isle of Man when you make your claim for Disability Living Allowance
• You have been present in the Isle of Man or the UK for at least 104 weeks of the 156 weeks immediately before you make your claim (the 104 weeks doesn't have to be a continuous period, and a shorter period applies in the case of a child aged under three years).
• You have needed help with your personal care or supervision or have had difficulty with getting around for at least three months.

Care component - for help with personal care  

If you need help with your personal care or supervision you may be eligible for the care component of Disability Living Allowance. There are three different rates of the care component, and the amount you may get depends on how much care or supervision you need.

Mobility component - for help with getting around 

If you have difficulty getting around you may be eligible for the mobility component. There are two different rates of the mobility component. You may receive the lower rate if you’re able to walk, but you need someone to guide you when you’re walking outdoors on unfamiliar routes. You may get the higher rate if you’re unable or virtually unable to walk without severe discomfort, or you have had both legs amputated or you have severe sight impairment.

Special rules for the terminally ill

For Disability Living Allowance, 'terminally ill' means you suffer from an illness that is likely to limit your life expectancy to 12 months or less.

If you are terminally ill, you:

• Don’t have to have lived in the Isle of Man or the UK for any particular period before you make your claim. However you must be present in the Isle of Man when you make your claim
• Automatically qualify for the highest rate care component
• Don’t have to wait three months before qualifying for Disability Living Allowance

You may be entitled to the mobility component as well if you have difficulty with getting around.

How to claim Disability Living Allowance

To claim Disability Living Allowance you will need to complete a Disability Living Allowance claim form.

This can be obtained by contacting the Disability Benefits Team.

Disability Benefits Team

Markwell House

Market Street

Douglas

IM1 2RZ

Telephone: 01624 685656

Email: disabilitybenefits@gov.im

You should claim Disability Living Allowance as soon as you need help, or straightaway if you are terminally ill.

It should be noted that a doctor may be asked to assess your care needs or mobility issues, and if you are terminally ill this will need to be confirmed by a doctor.

If you need assistance with completing your form, Crossroads provides a service to help with this. For more information, please contact Crossroads.

 
What happens next?

Once the form has been completed and sent to the Disability Benefits Team, you will receive a letter stating whether you can claim Disability Living Allowance and which weekly rate you will receive.

If you are turned down or are unhappy with the decision made, you can appeal the decision.

 

DISABLED PARKING BLUE BADGE SCHEME

What is the Disabled Parking Blue Badge Scheme?

If you have a disability or find it extremely difficult to walk long distances, a Blue Badge can help you to park your car more conveniently.

There is no charge for a Blue Badge and they are normally valid for three years. The badge is for you whatever vehicle you are travelling in.

How to use the Blue Badge

The Blue Badge is for use by the holder only.

The Blue Badge must be displayed on the vehicle only while it is being used by the person with the disability - the badge must be removed from the vehicle at all other times.

You must display the Blue Badge on the dashboard or fascia panel of a vehicle with the front facing forward so that the details can be seen from outside the vehicle.

If you are parking in a disc zone you are entitled to park double the length of the specified time.

Where to park

The Blue Badge does not give the holder any right to park in places where parking is restricted.

You may park in places reserved for the disabled, which may be on a street or in a car park. These places are clearly marked.

 
Double yellow lines

It is illegal for Blue Badge holders to park on double yellow lines in the Isle of Man.

At their discretion, the police and traffic controllers may allow parking on double yellow lines for short periods, when it is impractical for a person with a disability to park in an official space. However, you may only do this if:

• The vehicle is not parked within 7 metres (23 feet) of a road junction
• The vehicle is not causing a danger or obstruction to other road users
• There is not a loading or unloading ban in operation
• The vehicle is not on the zigzag markings at a pedestrian crossing
• There are no double white lines in the centre of the road

If this concession is misused or you park dangerously you could be liable to prosecution.

Misuse of a Blue Badge

Misuse of a Blue Badge is a serious offence and your badge can be withdrawn if you misuse it.

It is a summary offence for: 

• Able bodied people to use a badge
• To drive a vehicle displaying a Blue Badge unless the badge is properly used and displayed

The maximum fine for misusing a badge is £2,000.

Travelling off Island

If you take your Blue Badge to the UK you will be able to use it in the same way as in the Isle of Man, although there are some differences:

• You may need to use a time clock where there is a time limit
•  You may be able to park on double yellow lines

It is advised that you check local rules and conditions first.

Please note that Disabled Parking Blue Badges issued in the UK are valid on the Isle of Man.

 
How to apply for a Blue Badge?

To apply for a Blue Badge you will need to complete a Blue Badge Scheme application form.

This can be found on the Gov.im website, or you can contact the Disabled Parking Blue Badge Scheme Team.

Disabled Parking Blue Badge Scheme

Department of Health and Social Care

Third Floor Murray House

Mount Havelock

Douglas

Isle of Man

IM1 2SF

Telephone: 01624 686325

Email: carbadges.dsc@gov.im

INCAPACITY BENEFIT 

What is Incapacity Benefit?

Incapacity Benefit is a benefit to provide financial help to a person if they are sick and unable to work.

The current short term rate of Incapacity Benefit for the first 52 weeks of incapacity is £106.65 (2025/2026).

The current long term rate of Incapacity Benefit for after 52 weeks of incapacity is £141.25 (2025/2026).

Who can claim Incapacity Benefit? 

You may be able to qualify for Incapacity Benefit if:

You are ordinarily resident in the Isle of Man at the time of your claim

You are under State Pension age

Entitlement to Incapacity Benefit is based on the National Insurance contributions you have paid. Any savings you may have are ignored when deciding if you qualify.

How to apply for Incapacity Benefit

To claim Incapacity Benefit you will need to complete an Incapacity Benefit Claim Form (SC1). This can be found on the Gov.im website, or you can contact the Incapacity Benefits Team.

Incapacity Benefits Team

Social Security Division

Markwell House

Market Street

Douglas

IM1 2RZ

Telephone: 01624 685656

Email: incapacityBenefits@gov.im

You can also apply online for Incapacity Benefit through the Isle of Man Government Online Services.

You can only make your claim after you have been unable to work for four or more days in a row, and if you are claiming for any periods over 14 days, a medical certificate from your doctor should be included with your application.

 

INCOME SUPPORT

What is Income Support?

Income Support is a benefit to help provide extra financial support. Income Support is available to certain people who are either not working, or who work for less than 16 hours a week, and who don't have enough money to live on. It ensures they have enough money to meet their basic needs.

The amount of Income Support you receive will be the difference between the amount the law says you need to live on, including any housing costs you may have, and the amount of money (if any) you already have coming in. There is guidance available on Gov.im.

Who can claim Income Support?

You may be able to claim Income Support if you are aged 16 or over and are:

• A person who has reached state pension age
• A person who is incapable of work due to illness or disability
• A person who cares for a person with a disability full-time
• A lone parent who is responsible for at least one child aged under 6 years
• A lone parent who is getting Bereavement Support Payment and is responsible for at least one child of any age
• A woman who is or has been pregnant, but only for the period commencing 11 weeks before she expects to give birth and ending 15 weeks after she gives birth (or her pregnancy ends for another reason)
• A person on parental or paternity leave from their employment who is not being paid by their employer whilst they’re off work
• A student living away from their parents (but only in limited circumstances)
• A deaf student

If you don’t fall into any of the above categories but think that you may qualify for Income Support, you can get in touch with the Income Support Team.

Isle of Man residential condition

To claim Income Support, normally you must satisfy the 'Isle of Man residential condition'. However, in exceptional circumstances you may still get Income Support even if you don’t satisfy the Isle of Man residential condition.

You will satisfy the Isle of Man residential condition if you:

• Were born in the Isle of Man
• Have been ordinarily resident in the Isle of Man for a continuous period of at least 5 years at any time
• Have been ordinarily resident in the Isle of Man for 3 or more periods which, when added together, amount to at least 10 years

Or you are:

• The husband, wife or civil partner of a person who satisfies any of the conditions listed above
• The widow, widower or surviving civil partner of a person who satisfied any of the conditions listed above
• The former husband, wife or civil partner of a person who satisfies any of the conditions listed above
• The child of a person who satisfies any of the conditions listed above and that person was (or their spouse or civil partner was) serving in HM Forces when you were born

If you don’t satisfy the Isle of Man residential condition but you do meet the other qualifying conditions for Income Support, then you may still be entitled to Income Support if you can show that it would be exceptionally harsh or oppressive to deny you Income Support. If you think this applies to you, you can complete an Isle of Man Residential Qualification form (A17).

This can be found on the Gov.im website, or you can contact the Income Support Team.

Income Support Team

Social Security Division

Markwell House

Market Street

Douglas

IM1 2RZ

Telephone: 01624 685656

Email: incomesupport@gov.im

Working whilst claiming Income Support 

Income Support is not normally payable to you if you work for 16 or more hours a week, or if you have a partner who works for 24 or more hours a week. 
However, if you work for 16 hours or more (or your partner works for 24 hours or more) a week, you may still be able to get Income Support if the person who works, for example:

• Is caring for another person
• Is a part-time fire-fighter, an auxiliary coastguard, a lifeboat man or a member of the Territorial 
• Army or another reserve force or
• Is employed by a charity or voluntary organisation and is only paid expenses for that work

If you are not entitled to Income Support because of the hours you or your partner work, you may be able to get Employed Person's Allowance instead. 

How to claim Income Support? 

To claim Income Support you will need to complete an Income Support and Income Support for Pensioners claim form (A2).

This can be obtained by contacting the Income Support Team.

Income Support Team

Social Security Division

Markwell House

Market Street

Douglas

IM1 2RZ

Telephone: 01624 685656

Email: incomesupport@gov.im

You should make your claim as soon as you think you may be entitled to receive the benefit.

If you are unable to get to a Social Security office, the Income Support Team can arrange to visit you at home and help you with your claim.

When making a claim, you may need a number of documents including your birth certificate, proof of how much rent, rates, mortgage interest, service charges or lodging charges you have to pay, bank or building society statements or proof of any other savings, investments, land or property you have, and proof of any other money you have coming in, for example an occupational (or 'works') pension or a personal pension.

 
What happens next?

Once the form has been completed and sent to the Income Support Team, you will be advised whether you can claim Income Support and which rate you will receive.