This information applies to England and Wales.
If you cannot work because of disability, you might be able to claim New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
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There are 2 types of ESA:
If you have not claimed ESA before, you can only claim New Style ESA.
Easy read: New Style Employment and Support Allowance (GOV.UK)
If you have an existing claim for income-related ESA, your claim should continue if your circumstances do not change.
Existing claim for income-related ESA
To check which type of ESA you claim, check your decision letter.
You can also call Jobcentre Plus on 0800 169 0310.
You can no longer make a new claim for income-related ESA or contributory ESA. Universal Credit and New Style ESA have replaced these.
If you have an existing claim for income-related ESA or contributory ESA, you will continue to receive this until
ESA eligibility depends on your age, condition and income. You must:
You also must be 1 of the following:
You also need 2 full years of National Insurance contributions out of the last 3 tax years.
Eligibility for Employment and Support Allowance (GOV.UK)
If you do not have the National Insurance contributions, you might be eligible for Universal Credit.
You cannot claim ESA if you receive:
Check if you can claim ESA (Citizens Advice)
You can work while you are claiming ESA if:
Working while you claim ESA (GOV.UK)
This is known as permitted work and will not affect the amount of ESA you receive. If you claim ESA and want to start working, you will need to complete a PW1 form. This is what the work coach will use to decide whether it is permitted work or not.
A work coach is employed by Jobcentre Plus to support people who are unemployed, looking for a job or claiming benefits.
If you’re a full-time student, it can affect your benefits eligibility. You may be able to claim ESA or Universal Credit.
Full-time students and benefits (Turn2us)
You can only apply for New Style ESA. You will need 2 full years of National Insurance contributions out of the last 3 tax years. The criteria for New Style ESA are the same as for the old contribution-based ESA.
Check your National Insurance record (GOV.UK)
If you do not have enough National Insurance contributions, you could claim Universal Credit.
Some types of income may reduce the amount of ESA you receive. These include:
Income from these will be added together. If it is over £85 per week, half will be deducted from your ESA.
Your savings will not affect the amount of New Style ESA you receive. There are other types of income that do not affect New Style ESA. Get advice.
If it is reasonable to think that your illness could be terminal within 12 months, you can apply to fast-track your application. You also are exempt from the claimant commitments and face-to-face assessment.
You can only apply for New Style ESA. You will have a Work Capability Assessment (WCA).
To start the claim, you can:
When you claim ESA, you might be entitled to other benefits. These can include:
Use a benefits calculator for more information.
Depending on your circumstances, you might receive more money by claiming Universal Credit or a combination of other benefits. A benefits expert will be able to advise you.
Find a benefits adviser (Turn2us)
Why should you claim New Style Employment and Support Allowance? (GOV.UK)
If you are living with a partner, you must make a couple's claim, even if 1 person is eligible for ESA. This will affect how much money you can receive. Use a benefits calculator to find out how.
Living with a partner means 2 adults in the same household. They can be:
Having someone stay over at your house should not affect your benefits. There are no set rules about how often or how long someone can stay.
But if the DWP thinks someone has started living with you, this could affect your benefits.
While you are waiting to have the Work Capability Assessment (WCA), you’ll be given the assessment rate of New Style ESA.
It normally takes 13 weeks to be assessed.
Depending on the outcome of your assessment, the amount of money might increase.
The benefit process can be stressful. There are things you can do if it is affecting your mental health. These can include:
Support if claiming benefits affects your mental health
If your mental health means you find it hard to work or do daily tasks, you could claim benefits. These will depend on the criteria but can include depression or anxiety.
You will have a Work Capability Assessment if you claim ESA. This will decide how much money you receive.
The assessment usually has 2 parts:
The group will outline:
Employment and Support Allowance: What you’ll get (GOV.UK)
This means you have been assessed to have limited capability for work and work-related activity.
There is no time limit for the support group, and you will receive the higher amount of ESA.
You do not have to work or prepare for work.
This means you have been assessed to have limited capability for work.
You can only be in this group for 12 months, and you will receive the lower amount of ESA.
You do not have to work, but your work coach may ask you to do some regular tasks to get ready for work. These tasks are called claimant commitments:
Speak to your work coach if you struggle to manage the requirements.
You may also be entitled to Universal Credit. Use a benefits calculator to see if you are eligible.
This means you have been assessed as being able to work. Your ESA payments will stop.
If you disagree with the decision, you have 1 month to appeal.
If you are found to be fit for work after the assessment, you can appeal directly to the first-tier tribunal. You do not have to request a mandatory reconsideration first.
If you keep sending in fit notes, you can keep receiving ESA until you get a decision from the tribunal.
There are places where you can get free or cheap food. You do not need a referral to use some local food banks and pantries.
You may be eligible for discounts on your water and energy bills.
If you have been put in the Work-Related Activity Group, you will be asked to do work-related tasks. These are called claimant commitments.
Your work coach will discuss your claimant commitments with you. You will need to agree to this if you want to receive ESA. Claimant commitments can include:
Your benefits can be reduced if you do not meet your claimant commitments.
Talk to your work coach if you are struggling to complete the work-related activities.
Changing your claimant commitment (Citizens Advice)
If your work coach says they cannot be changed, you can make a complaint to DWP.
Your ESA will last 12 months if you are claiming:
If your ESA is ending because of the 1-year limit (Citizens Advice)
If your claim is due to end soon, you could see what other financial support is available. This might include applying for other benefits. You can:
If you do not agree with the DWP decision about your benefit claim, you can challenge it.
You might want to challenge the decision if:
If the DWP decided you are fit for work after a Work Capability Assessment, you can challenge the decision.
Being found fit for work means your ESA payment stops.
You may be able to go directly to appeal without going through mandatory reconsideration.
Check your decision letter or ask your work coach.
Income-related ESA is means-tested. This means they will look at your income. Income can include:
Disability benefits, like PIP or Disability Living Allowance (DLA), do not count when calculating your income.
If you live with a partner, you will need to make a joint ESA claim. Their income will also be included when calculating your payments and eligibility.
Claiming ESA when you live with someone
If you already claim income-related ESA, you will continue to receive it. Income-related ESA will stop if 1 of the following happens:
Changes in circumstances that trigger a move to UC (entitledto)
If you are receiving income-related ESA, this is affected by savings limits. Other benefits can also be affected by savings. For example, Universal Credit.
The savings limits for income-related ESA are:
Every £250 over £6,000 counts as if you had £1 of weekly income.
For example, you claim income-related ESA and have £7,000 in savings.
The first £6,000 is ignored. Every £250 of the remaining £1,000 counts as £1 of weekly income.
This means £4 comes off your weekly ESA payment.
If you receive income-related ESA, you might be entitled to disability premiums.
There are 2 types with ESA:
The type of premium you get will depend on the other benefits you receive. If you meet the criteria, you can claim both premiums.
If you move to Universal Credit, disability premiums will stop. You might get a transitional amount if you have less income on Universal Credit. This is known as transitional protection and happens automatically.
Universal Credit transitional protection (Turn2us)
If you get the severe disability premium and are moving to UC (GOV.UK)
It can be worrying if you do not receive an ESA payment. You might not receive a payment if:
If you have not received an ESA payment, contact DWP. Your work coach will not know why a payment has been missed.
If your circumstances change, let DWP know. This can include:
To decide whether to report a change, talk to your work coach.
Report a change of circumstances (GOV.UK)
Get advice if:
Last reviewed by Scope on: 26/03/2024
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