Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Printable version

1. Overview

You can apply for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) if you have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work.

ESA gives you:

  • money to help with living costs if you바카라 사이트檙e unable to work
  • support to get back into work if you바카라 사이트檙e able to

You can apply if you바카라 사이트檙e employed, self-employed or unemployed.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg) and in an easy read format.

2. Eligibility

You can apply for New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) if you바카라 사이트檙e under State Pension age and you have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work.

You also need to have both:

  • worked as an employee or have been self-employed
  • paid enough National Insurance contributions, usually in the last 2 to 3 years - National Insurance credits also count

Check your National Insurance record for gaps.

You cannot get New Style ESA if you claim Jobseeker바카라 사이트檚 Allowance (JSA) or Statutory Sick Pay

Claiming Universal Credit and New Style ESA

You might be able to get Universal Credit at the same time or instead of New Style ESA.

If you get both benefits, your Universal Credit payment is reduced by the amount you get for New Style ESA.

Your New Style ESA will usually be paid more regularly than Universal Credit. You바카라 사이트檒l also get different National Insurance credits which count towards your State Pension and help you qualify for other benefits.

Check if you바카라 사이트檙e eligible for Universal Credit.

If your Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is due to end

You can apply for New Style ESA up to 3 months before your SSP ends. You바카라 사이트檒l start getting New Style ESA as soon as your SSP ends.

If you바카라 사이트檙e working

You can apply whether you바카라 사이트檙e in or out of work. There are conditions to working while claiming ESA.

3. What you'll get

How much you get will depend on what stage your application is at, as well as things like your age and whether you바카라 사이트檙e able to get back into work.

If you get New Style ESA you바카라 사이트檒l earn Class 1 National Insurance credits, which can help towards your State Pension and some benefits in the future.

What might affect how much you get paid

If you get New Style ESA

Your payments will be affected if you get more than 拢85 a week from a private pension. If you do, half of your private pension income over 拢85 will be subtracted from your ESA payments each week.

For example, if you get 拢100 a week from a private pension, then 拢7.50 will be subtracted from your ESA payment each week.

If your private pension income is high enough, you could get no ESA payments. You would still get Class 1 National Insurance credits.

You cannot make a new claim for income-related ESA. You바카라 사이트檒l continue to get payments while you바카라 사이트檙e eligible until your claim ends.

Your household income and savings worth 拢6,000 or more may affect how much you can get.

While your claim is being assessed

You바카라 사이트檒l normally get the 바카라 사이트榓ssessment rate바카라 사이트� for 13 weeks while your claim is being assessed.

This will be:

  • up to 拢72.90 a week if you바카라 사이트檙e aged under 25
  • up to 拢92.05 a week if you바카라 사이트檙e aged 25 or over

If it takes longer than 13 weeks to assess your claim, you바카라 사이트檒l continue getting the 바카라 사이트榓ssessment rate바카라 사이트� until you get a decision or until your ESA is due to end.

Your ESA will be backdated if you바카라 사이트檙e owed any money after 13 weeks.

After you바카라 사이트檙e assessed

You바카라 사이트檒l be placed into one of 2 groups if you바카라 사이트檙e entitled to ESA. If you바카라 사이트檙e able to get back into work in the future, you바카라 사이트檒l be put into the work-related activity group. Otherwise, you바카라 사이트檒l be put into the support group.

If you바카라 사이트檙e nearing the end of life, you바카라 사이트檒l be put into the support group.

You바카라 사이트檒l get:

  • up to 拢92.05 a week if you바카라 사이트檙e in the work-related activity group聽
  • up to 拢140.55 a week if you바카라 사이트檙e in the support group

If you바카라 사이트檙e in the support group

If you바카라 사이트檙e in the support group and on income-related ESA, you바카라 사이트檙e also entitled to the enhanced disability premium.

You may also qualify for the severe disability premium.

Find out how to apply for a disability premium.

How and when you바카라 사이트檙e paid

You바카라 사이트檒l get paid ESA every 2 weeks.

Find out how and when your benefits are paid.

Other benefits you can claim

You could get Universal Credit at the same time or instead of New Style ESA. Check if you바카라 사이트檙e eligible for Universal Credit.

Use a benefits calculator to find out what other benefits you could get, for example Personal Independence Payment (PIP) if you have a long-term health condition or disability.

The benefit cap may affect the total amount of benefit you can get. The cap will not affect you if you바카라 사이트檙e in the support group.

If your income-related ESA claim is ending because you바카라 사이트檙e making a new claim for Universal Credit, you바카라 사이트檒l automatically continue to get the amount of ESA you currently receive, as long as you바카라 사이트檙e still eligible. You바카라 사이트檒l normally get this for 2 weeks, starting from the date of your new claim.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will write to you telling you how this works.

You do not need to pay this money back, and it will not affect the amount of Universal Credit you get.

Budgeting Loan

You can apply for a Budgeting Loan if you바카라 사이트檝e been on income-related ESA for at least 6 months.

Advice on money and debt

You can get help and advice from your Jobcentre Plus work coach or:

4. Working while you claim

You can usually work while you are claiming ESA if both of the following apply:

  • you work less than 16 hours a week
  • you do not earn more than 拢195.50 a week

You can do as many hours of voluntary work as you like.

Tell Jobcentre Plus about your work including any volunteering when you make a claim.

If you바카라 사이트檙e already claiming ESA and want to start work, fill in the ESA permitted work form. Send the form to Jobcentre Plus.

5. How to claim

You could get Universal Credit at the same time or instead of New Style ESA. Check if you바카라 사이트檙e eligible for Universal Credit.

There바카라 사이트檚 a different way to apply:聽

What you need to apply

You바카라 사이트檒l need:

  • your National Insurance number
  • your bank or building society account number and sort code (you can use a friend or family member바카라 사이트檚 account if you do not have one)
  • your doctor바카라 사이트檚 name, address and telephone number
  • a fit note (sometimes called a 바카라 사이트榮ick note바카라 사이트� or a 바카라 사이트榮tatement of fitness for work바카라 사이트�) if you바카라 사이트檝e not been able to work for more than 7 days in a row because of a disability or health condition
  • details of your income, if you바카라 사이트檙e working
  • the date your Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) ends, if you바카라 사이트檙e claiming it

You cannot get New Style ESA if you바카라 사이트檙e getting Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) from an employer. You can apply for New Style ESA up to 3 months before your SSP ends.

Apply online for ESA

Once you바카라 사이트檝e applied, you바카라 사이트檒l be contacted by phone and told when to give the evidence and where to send it.

You cannot apply online if you바카라 사이트檙e applying as an appointee on someone else바카라 사이트檚 behalf.

When you can apply by phone

Call the Jobcentre Plus new claims helpline if:

  • you cannot make an application online
  • you바카라 사이트檙e an appointee for someone

Jobcentre Plus new claims helpline

Telephone: 0800 055 6688
Textphone: 0800 328 1344
(if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 055 6688
British Sign Language (BSL) if you바카라 사이트檙e on a computer - find out how to
Welsh language telephone: 0800 328 1744
Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm
Find out about call charges

After you apply

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will contact you within 10 working days of applying.

If you바카라 사이트檙e eligible

DWP will contact you within 10 working days to schedule an appointment that you must attend. It will normally be over the phone with a work coach from your local Jobcentre Plus office. If your appointment is in-person at a Jobcentre Plus office, you바카라 사이트檒l need to bring ID and proof of address.

Your work coach will explain what you need to do to get New Style ESA. They will create an agreement with you called a 바카라 사이트楥laimant Commitment바카라 사이트�.

You must agree to your Claimant Commitment before you can get New Style ESA.

At the appointment, you바카라 사이트檒l be asked to:

If you바카라 사이트檙e not eligible

DWP will send you a letter within 10 working days of applying to explain why you바카라 사이트檙e not eligible for ESA.

If you disagree with a decision

You can challenge a decision about your claim. This is called asking for 바카라 사이트榤andatory reconsideration바카라 사이트�.

Reapplying for ESA

You cannot make a new claim for income-related ESA. You바카라 사이트檒l continue to get payments while you바카라 사이트檙e eligible until your claim ends.

You may be able to reapply after your New Style ESA ends. You may qualify again depending on:

  • what National Insurance contributions you paid in the last 2 full tax years before the tax year you바카라 사이트檙e claiming in
  • whether you바카라 사이트檙e placed in the support group because you developed a new condition or your health deteriorated

6. Your ESA claim

After you바카라 사이트檝e made your claim, you바카라 사이트檒l be told if you need to have a 바카라 사이트榃ork Capability Assessment바카라 사이트� and what group you바카라 사이트檒l be put in.

Work Capability Assessment

A Work Capability Assessment is used to find out if your illness or disability affects how much you can work.

You might not need one, for example if you바카라 사이트檙e in hospital or you바카라 사이트檙e nearing the end of life.

If you need a Work Capability Assessment you바카라 사이트檒l get a letter telling you to fill in the 바카라 사이트楥apability for work questionnaire바카라 사이트� and send it to the Health Assessment Advisory Service. The address is on the form. There is a .

You바카라 사이트檒l be told what happens next, for example if you need an appointment to understand your health condition better.

If you바카라 사이트檙e claiming both Universal Credit and New Style ESA, you바카라 사이트檒l only have one Work Capability Assessment.

You can ask for your assessment to be recorded. If you would like this, tell the Health Assessment Advisory Service using the contact details in your appointment invite letter.

How the assessment happens

Assessments can be in person, by video call or on the phone. You바카라 사이트檒l be told how your assessment will take place.

You can have someone else with you at the assessment, such as a friend or support worker. If your assessment is by phone or video call, you can ask the assessor to call them if they바카라 사이트檙e not with you when the assessment starts.

You바카라 사이트檒l stay on the 바카라 사이트榓ssessment rate바카라 사이트� until a decision can be made on your Work Capability Assessment.

After your claim is assessed

If you바카라 사이트檙e entitled to ESA you바카라 사이트檒l be placed in one of 2 groups:

  • a work-related activity group (you cannot work now, but can prepare to work in the future, for example by writing a CV)
  • a support group (you cannot work now and you바카라 사이트檙e not expected to prepare for work in the future)

You will:

  • usually be in the support group if your illness or disability severely limits what you can do
  • be in the support group if you바카라 사이트檙e nearing the end of life

You must attend regular interviews with a work coach. They can help you improve your skills or write a CV to help you get back into work.

If you바카라 사이트檙e in the support group

You do not have to go to interviews. You can tell your work coach if you바카라 사이트檇 like to take part in work-related activities.

How long you바카라 사이트檒l get ESA for

You cannot make a new claim for income-related ESA. You바카라 사이트檒l continue to get payments while you바카라 사이트檙e eligible until your claim ends.

New Style and contribution-based ESA last for 365 days if you바카라 사이트檙e in the work-related activity group.

There바카라 사이트檚 no time limit if you바카라 사이트檙e in the support group, or if you바카라 사이트檙e getting income-related ESA.

To keep getting ESA you must report any change in your circumstances. You may also need to send fit notes regularly.

If you get a sanction

Your ESA can be reduced if you do not attend interviews or do work-related activity as agreed with your work coach in your 바카라 사이트楥laimant Commitment바카라 사이트�. This reduction can continue for up to 4 weeks after you restart work-related activities.

You바카라 사이트檒l get a letter to say you may be sanctioned. Tell your work coach if you have a good reason for not doing what was agreed in your Claimant Commitment.

You바카라 사이트檒l get another letter if the decision is made to give you a sanction. Your benefit will only be affected once a decision has been made.

You should contact your local council immediately if you claim Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction. They바카라 사이트檒l tell you what to do to continue getting support.

If you get a sanction you can:

You will not get a sanction if you바카라 사이트檙e in the support group.

Hardship payments

If you get income-related ESA, you may be able to get a hardship payment if your benefit has been reduced because of a sanction or a penalty due to suspected benefit fraud.

A hardship payment is a reduced amount of your ESA. You do not have to pay it back.

You can get a hardship payment if you cannot pay for rent, heating, food or other basic needs for you or your family. You must be 18 or over.

Speak to your Jobcentre Plus adviser or work coach to find out how to claim a hardship payment.

7. Report a change of circumstances

You must report changes to your circumstances so you keep getting the right amount of ESA. The amount you get could go up or down.

Your benefit might be stopped or reduced if you do not report a change straight away.

You may also need to report changes to other organisations paying you benefits. Find out how to report a change of circumstances for other benefits.

What you need to report

This list does not cover every change you must report. Call Jobcentre Plus if you바카라 사이트檙e not sure whether you need to report a change.

You may be prosecuted or have to pay a 拢50 penalty if you give wrong or incomplete information.

Changes to personal details

You must report if you:

  • change your bank details
  • change your telephone number
  • have someone start or stop living with you

You must report if you or anyone who lives with you has a change in immigration status, if you or they are not a British citizen.

You must report if you, anyone who lives with you, or your husband, wife or civil partner:

  • changes name
  • changes address
  • leaves Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) for any period of time
  • gets married or forms a civil partnership
  • gets divorced or ends a civil partnership
  • has a baby or gets pregnant
  • goes into prison or legal custody

If anyone who lives with you or your husband, wife or civil partner dies, report this using the Tell Us Once service instead.

Changes to a medical condition or disability

You must report if you or someone included on your claim:

  • has any changes to a medical condition or disability
  • goes into hospital, a care home or sheltered accommodation
  • changes doctor
  • starts or stops caring for someone

Changes to work or education

You must report if you, anyone who lives with you, or your husband, wife or civil partner:

  • starts or stops education, training or an apprenticeship
  • finds or leaves a job, or starts working different hours
  • is involved in a trade dispute, or is unable to work because of a trade dispute (for example, if there바카라 사이트檚 a strike)

Changes to income and benefits

You must report if you or anyone who lives with you:

  • has a change to their salary or earnings from work
  • gets paid back-pay (sometimes called 바카라 사이트榓rrears바카라 사이트�) for their salary or earnings from work
  • starts or stops getting a benefit or a pension
  • starts or stops getting any other regular source of money (for example, student loans or grants, sick pay, or money from a charity)
  • has a change to the amount of money they get from a benefit, a pension or any other regular source of money

You must also report if anyone caring for you starts or stops getting:

  • Carer바카라 사이트檚 Allowance
  • Carer Support Payment
  • the carer element of Universal Credit

Changes to assets

Assets are things like:

  • savings or investments
  • property
  • one-off payments (for example, money from inheritance or a lump sum payment)

You must report if you and anyone who lives with you starts or stops having 拢6,000 or more in total assets between you.

If you already have over 拢6,000 in total assets between you, you must report any increase or decrease to the value of those assets.

If you바카라 사이트檝e been paid too much

If you give wrong or incomplete information or do not report a change straight away, you might be paid too much. If you are, you might have to聽pay some of the money back.

How to report

You can report a change of circumstances by:

  • calling Jobcentre Plus
  • writing to the Jobcentre Plus office that pays your ESA - the address is on the letters you get about your ESA

Jobcentre Plus

Telephone: 0800 169 0310
Textphone: 0800 169 0314
(if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 169 0310
British Sign Language (BSL) if you바카라 사이트檙e on a computer - find out how to
Welsh language: 0800 328 1744
Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm
Find out about call charges

If you get Universal Credit at the same time as New Style ESA, you must also report the changes of circumstances in your Universal Credit account.

If you바카라 사이트檙e in Northern Ireland .

8. Claiming ESA if you바카라 사이트檙e nearing the end of life

If you바카라 사이트檙e nearing the end of life (for example, due to a life-limiting illness) you might be able to get Employment Support Allowance (ESA) more quickly and at a higher rate.聽

This is sometimes called 바카라 사이트榮pecial rules for end of life바카라 사이트�.

You may be able to get other benefits if you바카라 사이트檙e nearing the end of life.

Eligibility

You바카라 사이트檙e usually eligible if:

  • you바카라 사이트檙e under State Pension age
  • you바카라 사이트檝e worked as an employee or have been self-employed
  • you바카라 사이트檝e paid enough National Insurance contributions, usually in the last 2 to 3 years
  • your doctor or medical professional has said that you might have 12 months or less to live

It can be difficult to predict how long someone might live for. If a medical professional has not talked to you about this, you can still ask them to support your claim under the special rules for end of life.

You cannot get ESA if you claim Jobseeker바카라 사이트檚 Allowance (JSA) or Statutory Sick Pay

What you바카라 사이트檒l get

You바카라 사이트檒l normally get the 바카라 사이트榓ssessment rate바카라 사이트� while your claim is being assessed.聽

This will be:

  • up to 拢71.70 a week if you바카라 사이트檙e aged under 25
  • up to 拢90.50 a week if you바카라 사이트檙e aged 25 or over

After you바카라 사이트檙e assessed, you바카라 사이트檒l get up to 拢138.20 a week. You may also be eligible for the disability premium.

You바카라 사이트檒l get paid ESA every 2 weeks.

How to claim

Ask a medical professional for form SR1. They바카라 사이트檒l either fill it in and give the form to you or send it directly to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Apply for ESA online.

Call the Jobcentre Plus new claims helpline if:

  • you cannot make an application online
  • you바카라 사이트檙e applying as an appointee on someone else바카라 사이트檚 behalf

Jobcentre Plus new claims helpline

Telephone: 0800 055 6688
Textphone: 0800 328 1344
(if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 055 6688
British Sign Language (BSL) if you바카라 사이트檙e on a computer - find out how to
Welsh language telephone: 0800 328 1744聽聽 Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm聽聽 Find out about call charges聽聽

After you apply

DWP will contact you within 10 working days of applying.

You will not need to attend an appointment or make a Claimant Commitment.

If you already get ESA

Ask a medical professional for form SR1. They바카라 사이트檒l either fill it in and give the form to you or send it directly to DWP.

Report the change by calling Jobcentre Plus.

Jobcentre Plus聽聽

Telephone: 0800 169 0310
Textphone: 0800 169 0314
(if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 169 0310
British Sign Language (BSL) if you바카라 사이트檙e on a computer - find out how to
Welsh language: 0800 328 1744
Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm
Find out about call charges聽

If you get Universal Credit at the same time as ESA, you must also report the change in your Universal Credit account.