Definition

Noun: A regular payment made by the government or an insurance scheme to a person who is unable to work due to illness or injury. It is a form of financial support intended to replace lost income during a period of sickness.

Usage

This term is used specifically in the context of social security, welfare systems, and employment insurance. It refers to the monetary entitlement itself, not the condition of being ill.

Examples

• After her surgery, she applied for sickness benefit to cover her living expenses while she recovered.
• The new policy extended the duration of sickness benefit from six months to a year.
• He was relieved to learn his contributions qualified him for sickness benefit.

Advanced Usage

• To be on sickness benefit: To be receiving this type of payment.
  • She has been on sickness benefit since her accident.
• To claim sickness benefit: To formally apply for and request this payment.
  • You must provide a doctor's note to claim sickness benefit.

Variants and Related Words

• Sick pay (n): Wages paid by an employer to an employee who is absent due to illness. This is distinct from government-provided sickness benefit.
• Disability benefit (n): A long-term payment for those with a lasting health condition or disability that affects their ability to work.
• Incapacity Benefit (n): A former UK state benefit for those unable to work due to illness or disability, now largely replaced by Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

Synonyms

• Illness benefit
• Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) (specifically in the UK context, referring to employer-paid legal minimum)
• Health insurance benefit (in some private insurance contexts)

Notes

"Sickness benefit" is a compound noun. The core word "benefit" is a noun meaning an advantage or payment. Here, it is specified by "sickness" to indicate the specific type of financial assistance.

Noun

1. money paid (by the government) to someone who is too ill to work