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Employment and Support Allowance

 

Index

You can read through this information sheet, or go directly to the sections you want to read by clicking on these links:

• Who does it help?   
• What help does it provide?
• How much does it pay?
• How do I make a claim?
• What documents will I need?
• Can it be backdated?
• Challenging decisions
• Change of circumstance

Who does it help?

There are two sorts of ESA:

• contributory ESA, which you can get if you have paid enough national insurance contributions. Although, from 30 April 2012, the amount of time it can be paid for will be limited to 365 days.
• income-related ESA, which you can get if your income and savings are low enough.You can't get any income-related ESA if you have savings of more than £16,000.

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

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

People who have a terminal illness

If you have a terminal illness, there are special rules regarding ESA. You can get the benefit from the first day of sickness and will not have to score points in a medical examination. You will get ESA with a support component from the start of your claim.

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What help does it provide?

ESA is money that that you can spend as you want. ESA is usually paid into your bank or building society account.  You can be paid at a post office in some cases.

If you are getting income-related ESA and you have a mortgage, you could also get some help with your housing costs. If you are in rented property you could get the maximum amount of Housing Benefit for your situation. 

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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 (assessment period)
• what level of support you are considered to need after the first 13 weeks (main phase)
• 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 up to £56.25. If you are a single person aged 25 and over, you can get up to £71.00.

If you get income-related ESA, your income will be compared with an amount the Government thinks is enough for you to live on. If your income is less than this amount, you will get the difference. If your income is equal to or more than this amount, you won't get income-related ESA.

You can find out all the current rates of ESA (link opens in a new window) from the Government's Directgov website.

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How do I make a claim?

Online Claim

Claim online at the Department for Work and Pensions website (link opens in a new window)

Telephone Claim

Phone Jobcentre Plus:
Telephone: 0800 055 6688
Textphone: 0800 023 4888
Welsh language line: 0800 012 1888

Paper Claim

Download a claim form from the Directgov website (link opens in a new window)

In Northern Ireland
Telephone: 0800 085 6318
Textphone: 0800 328 3419

Download a claim form from the NI Direct website (link opens in a new window)

During the first 13 weeks of your 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 whether you have limited capability for work-related activity. If you have a severe disability, you will be put in a group called the Support Group. If you are not put in the support group, you'll be put in the Work Related Activity Group (WRAG), which will involve a third assessment about the activities you can do and monthly work-focused interviews with a personal adviser from the Department for Work and Pensions.

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What documents will I 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. 

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Can it be backdated?

Employment and Support Allowance can be backdated for up to three months before the date of claim if you would have been entitled to it earlier. It does not matter why your claim is late. Request this when claiming

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Challenging decisions

If you disagree with the decision made on your benefit claim you can ask for a written statement of reasons. If you still believe the decision is wrong, for example due to incorrect information being used, you can ask for it to be looked at again, and/or appeal.

The time limits are strict, you will usually be given one month to dispute a decision, so it is important to seek advice and act quickly.

Further information on Challenges and complaints

Change of circumstance

You must report changes in your circumstances which might affect your entitlement to this benefit

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This information has been produced by Citizens Advice

Last updated: 9 April 2012