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Employment and Support Allowance

Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland

Who does it help?

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is money for people who have limited capability for work because of their sickness or disability. It is for people who do not get Statutory Sick Pay. ESA is a new benefit which replaces Incapacity Benefit and Income Support for people who are sick or disabled for new claims from 27 October 2008.  People who are already getting Incapacity Benefit or Income Support because of sickness or disability will carry on getting it.

There are two sorts of ESA:

• contributory ESA, which you can get if you have paid enough national insurance contributions. However, if you become unfit for work before you are 20 (25 in some cases), you do not need to meet the national insurance contribution conditions.
• income-related ESA, which you can get if your income and savings are low enough – see below.

You may be able to get one or both sorts of ESA depending on your circumstances.

You must be 16 or over and under state pension age. This used to be 60 for a woman and 65 for a man but this is changing for a lot of people. You can work out the exact date of your state pension age by using the state pension age calculator (link opens in a new window) on the Government's Directgov website.

For both sorts of ESA, you will usually have to have various assessments [see below] to prove you have limited capability for work.

Is it means-tested?

Contributory ESA is not means-tested.

To get income-related ESA, your income will be compared with an amount the Government thinks is enough for you to live on.  If you income is less than this, you will get the maximum amount of income-related ESA. If your income is more than this amount, you may get some income-related ESA.  You cannot get any income-related ESA if your savings are more than £16,000. If you get child maintenance payments, usually these will not be included in your income.

What help does the benefit provide?

ESA is money that that you can spend as you want.  If you are getting income-related ESA and you have a mortgage, you can also get help with some of your housing costs. You'll also get the maximum amount of Housing Benefit. 

ESA is usually paid into your bank or building society account.  You can be paid at a post office in some cases.

How much does it pay?

The amount of ESA you can get depends on different factors:

• whether you are getting contributory ESA or income-related ESA or both
• whether you are in the first 13 weeks of a claim
• what level of support you are considered to need after the first 13 weeks
• whether you are aged 25 or over
• whether you live with a partner.

For example, for contributory ESA, if you are a single person under 25, in the first 13 weeks of a claim, you can get £51.85.  If you are a single person aged 25 and over, you can get up to £65.45. Depending on your circumstances you may be able to get more money if you get income-related ESA.

You can find out all the current rates of ESA (link opens in a new window) from the website of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Is this a taxable benefit?

Income-related ESA is not a taxable benefit.

Contributory ESA is a taxable benefit. You must tell your tax office if you start to get contributory ESA.

How to claim

Make your initial claim by phoning 0800 055 6688 in England, Wales and Scotland, or 0800 085 6318 in Northern Ireland. There is a Welsh language number which is 0800 012 1888. When they have spoken to you, you will be sent a statement of your situation to check but you do not need to sign or return this. 

You could also make an application for ESA:

• on the Directgov website (link opens in a new window)
• apply in writing – contact your local benefits office for details of how to do this.

During the first 13 weeks of a claim, you will have a number of different assessments or medical examinations.  The first assessment checks whether you have limited capability for work. You will only qualify for ESA if you satisfy this test.

A second assessment will then look at what you need to do to help you get back to work.  If you have a severe disability, you will be put in a group called the support group. If you are not put in a support group, you'll be put in the work-related group.  These people will have a third assessment which is about the things you can do.  If you are in the work-related group, you will also have to take part in monthly work-focused interviews with a personal adviser from the Department for Work and Pensions.

You can make a backdated claim for ESA for three months before the date of your claim. You do not have to give a reason for a backdated claim.  

Documents you need

You have to provide:

• medical evidence of your condition
• evidence of who you are, for example, a driving licence or birth certificate
• your national insurance number and the national insurance number of your partner if you are claiming income-related ESA. If you do not have a national insurance number, you should be given one when you make your claim. 

Further help

• The Turn2us Benefit Checker can help you find out if you qualify for DLA.
• For general enquiries about ESA, you can phone:  0800 055 6688 or textphone: 0800 023 4888.  There is also a Welsh language line number on: 0800 012 1888.  In Northern Ireland, phone: 0800 085 6318 or if you have hearing or speech problems: 0800 328 3419. 
• The Citizens Advice website (link opens in a new window) can give you more information about ESA
• The Directgov website has more information on ESA (link opens in a new window) 
• See Long term illness/disability and Useful links.

This information has been produced by Citizens Advice.

Last updated: 12 July 2010