What is Sickness benefit?
'''Sickness benefit''' was part of the [[Social security|Social Security]] system in the United Kingdom. It started with the [[National Insurance]] Act 1911. People had to get a [[Sick leave|sick note]] and they had to have paid enough National Insurance Contributions. It lasted for six months. After that people got [[Invalidity Benefit]] if they were still ill. That was more money. After 1983, most people got [[Statutory Sick Pay]] from their work for the first 8 weeks they were ill instead of sickness benefit. From 1986 [[Statutory Sick Pay]] lasted for 28 weeks, so people didn't get sickness benefit unless they couldn't get [[Statutory Sick Pay]]. In 1948, it was 26 shillings a week, but married women only got 16 shillings because they were expected to rely on their [[husband]] for money.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Sick Note|last=Millward|first=Gareth|publisher=OUP|year=2022|isbn=9780192865748|location=Oxford|pages=91, 127}}</ref> In 1987, it was £30.05 a week for both men and women.<ref>{{Cite book|title=How to Claim State Benefits|last=Rathfelder|first=Martin|publisher=Northcote House|year=1987|isbn=0746305052|location=Plymouth|pages=190}}</ref> == References == {{reflist}} [[Category:Social security in the United Kingdom]]