Skip to site navigation

Accessibility Options

Font size

Colour scheme

Employment and Support Allowance

 

 

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is a new benefit paid to people whose ability to work is limited by ill health or disability.

It will replace Incapacity Benefit and Income Support paid on incapacity grounds for new claimants from 27 October 2008.

Who can get the allowance

You may get ESA if:

  • you are aged at least 16 and are under pension age (60 for women and 65 for men)
    and
  • your ability to work is limited and you pass an assessment test 
    and
    • you have paid enough national insurance contributions for contribution-based ESA
      (young people aged under 25 can sometimes claim without contributions)
      or
    • your income (including savings) is low enough for income-based ESA.
If you have very severe disabilities or are terminally ill you will receive ESA automatically and will not have to meet the above conditions.

Receiving the allowance

In order to get the full amount of ESA and continue to receive it, you will have to attend interviews to discuss work and training options.

ESA will be paid at a lower rate during the first 13 weeks – it will increase after this if you meet the conditions outlined above.

How to claim

From 27 October 2008, contact Jobcentre Plus - visit their website for contact details. Remember to request a call back if you are ringing from a mobile phone.

Further information

For further advice and information, including advice on what to do if your claim if refused, contact our Welfare Rights Service.

A to Z of Services

Welfare Rights

Useful links