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Ministers looking to make savings have set their sights on the bill for incapacity benefit - but how does the system work at present?

Some 2.6m people claim incapacity benefit, or its successor, the employment and support allowance, at an annual cost of about £12.5bn.

Chancellor George Osborne says that this amount could be cut, while protecting "those with genuine needs".

So what are the basics?

What are the benefits?

How does the new allowance work?

How does incapacity benefit differ?

How is an illness or disability assessed for benefit eligibility?