Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is money for people with a disability or health condition that affects if and how much they can work. This is called having ‘limited capacity for work’.

Depending on your circumstances, you’ll either receive money to help living costs if you’re unable to work or you’ll receive money and support to get back into work.

You can apply for ESA if you:

• Are 16 or over
• Are under State Pension age
• Have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work
• Have been employed or self-employed
• Have paid enough National Insurance contributions, usually in the last two to three years

You cannot claim New Style ESA if you currently getting:

• Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)
• Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)

However, you can apply for New Style ESA for up to three months before your Statutory Sick Pay ends.

Most people can now only apply for New Style ESA. However, there are two old types of ESA that some people are still getting. These are:

• Contribution-based ESA
• Income-based ESA

You cannot make a new claim for contribution-based ESA, but you might still get income-based ESA added to an existing claim to increase the amount.

If you receive a Severe Disability Premium (SDP), you can apply for New Style ESA.

You may be able to claim Universal Credit at the same time as New Style ESA, or instead of it. If you claim both benefits, your Universal Credit payment will be reduced by the amount that you get for ESA.

New Style ESA is usually paid more frequently than Universal Credit. You’ll also get National Insurance credits that will help you qualify for other benefits and will count towards your State Pension.

If you need more information about claiming both Universal Credit and New Style ESA, speak to a local Citizens Advice adviser.

How much you’ll get depends on:

• What stage your application is at
• Your age
• Whether you’re likely to be able to work again

If you get New Style ESA, you’ll also earn Class 1 National Insurance credits.

Can I claim if I’m working?

You might be able to work while claiming ESA if both the following apply:

• You work less than 16 hours a week
• You do not earn more than a certain amount each week

You can volunteer as many hours as you like.

When applying for ESA, you must tell Jobcentre Plus about any work you currently do, including volunteering.

Find out more about claiming for ESA whilst you’re employed on GOV.UK.

What might affect how much you’ll get

If you get New Style ESA, your payments might be reduced if you get more than £85 a week from a private pension. In some cases, you might not get any money – but you’ll still receive National Insurance credits.

For more information about how your private pension could affect your ESA payments, visit GOV.UK.

How long can you claim ESA
If you’re in the work-related activity group, New Style ESA and contribution-based ESA lasts for 365 days.

If you’re in the support group, or if you’re getting income-related ESA, there is no time limit.

To keep getting ESA, you must report any changes to your circumstances. You may also need to send fit notes (sometimes called ‘sick notes’) regularly.

While your claim is being assessed, you will normally get the assessment rate. This is usually for up to 13 weeks. If your assessment takes longer, this rate will continue until you get a decision, or your ESA is due to end.

If you’re owed extra money, it will be backdated.

For current ESA rates, visit GOV.UK.

If your application is successful, you’ll be placed into one of two groups:

• Work-related activity group – for people who cannot work currently but may be able to get back into work in the future
• Support group – for people who have a disability or health condition which makes it unlikely they will be able to work in the future

If you’re in the support group and receiving income-related ESA, you’re also entitled to the enhanced disability premium and you may also qualify for the severe disability premium.

You could get Universal Credit at the same time or instead of New Style ESA. If you have a long-term health condition or disability, you may also be able to get Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

To find out what benefits you may be able to get, use a benefits calculator, speak to an adviser at Citizens Advice, or speak to us.

You can apply for ESA online on GOV.UK.

If you cannot apply online or you are applying on behalf of someone else, contact the Jobcentre Plus new claims helpline on 0800 055 6688.

If you live in Northern Ireland, you can apply online for ESA on nidirect.

To apply for ESA, you’ll need:

• Your National Insurance number
• Bank or building society details
• Your GP’s name and contact details
• A fit note (sometimes called a ‘sick note’ or ‘statement of fitness for work’)
• Details of your income, if you’re working
• The date that your statutory sick pay ends, if you’re claiming it (you can claim ESA up to three months before the end date)

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

If eligible, they’ll arrange an appointment. It will normally be a phone call with a work coach from your local Jobcentre Plus. If your appointment is in-person, you’ll need to bring ID and proof of address with you.

During your appointment, your coach will explain what you need to do to get New Style ESA. They will create an agreement with you called a Claimant Commitment, which you must agree to before you can get New Style ESA. Commitments include agreeing to meet with your coach, to look for work, apply for jobs or to take training courses to improve your skills.

At your appointment you’ll be asked to:

• Explain how your disability or long-term health condition affects your ability to work
• Provide medical evidence
• Agree to notify your local Jobcentre Plus if your circumstances change

After you’ve made your claim, you may need to have a Work Capability Assessment.

Work Capability Assessment

This assessment helps the DWP decide how much your condition affects your ability to work.

If you need one, you’ll get a letter telling you to fill in the Capability for work questionnaire. Once you’ve filled it in, you need to send it to the address provided. If you live in Northern Ireland, there is a different questionnaire.

If you’re claiming both Universal Credit and New Style ESA, you’ll only have one Work Capability Assessment.

What happens at the assessment

Assessments can be in person, by video call, or on the phone. You can have someone, like a friend, carer, support worker or family member, with you at the assessment.

Whilst a decision is made, you’ll stay on the assessment rate.

After your assessment, you’ll receive a letter from the DWP with their decision. If you are entitled to ESA, you’ll be put in one of the following two groups:

• A work-related activity group – you cannot work now but you may be able to work in the future
• A support group – you cannot work now and it’s unlikely you’ll be able to work in the future

If you’re in the work-related activity group, you must attend regular interviews with a work coach who will support you to get back into work. This may include completing courses to add to your CV, helping you prepare for job interviews, or doing voluntary work.

If your disability or illness severely limits your ability to work, you’ll be in the support group. You will not need to attend interviews with a work coach or do anything work-related unless you’d like to.

Challenging a decision

If you’re unsuccessful with your ESA claim and you’re unhappy with the decision, you can ask the DWP to look at it again. This is called a mandatory reconsideration.

You can contact your local Citizens Advice or speak to us if you need help with challenging a decision.

Author: Muscular Dystrophy UK
Last reviewed: July 2025
Next review due: July 2028