People with disabilities that affect their work are entitled to hundreds a months in extra support. Employment and support allowance (ESA) is a benefit given to help with extra costs if you have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work.
You can apply for 'new style' ESA if you are under state pension age and you have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work, but you also need to have both worked as an employee or been self-employed, and paid enough National Insurance contributions, usually in the last two to three years.
You cannot get new style ESA if you claim Jobseeker's allowance or statutory sick pay, but you could get it if you receive universal credit at the same time. However, if you get both benefits your universal credit payment will be reduced by the amount you get for new style ESA.
Read more: DWP confirms universal credit changes for late May bank holiday and rest of 2023
There are a range of conditions that mean you could qualify for ESA. Here is everything you need to know about ESA including how much you get, what health conditions qualify and how to get the money. To get all the latest money-saving news straight to your inbox twice a week sign up here.
How much is ESA and how do I apply?
You can apply for ESA online here or by phone on 0800 055 6688. You’ll need:
- your National Insurance number
- your bank or building society account number and sort code (you can use a friend or family member’s account if you do not have one)
- your doctor’s name, address and telephone number
- a fit note (sometimes called a ‘sick note’ or a ‘statement of fitness for work’) if you’ve not been able to work for more than 7 days in a row because of a disability or health condition
- details of your income, if you’re working
- the date your statutory sick pay (SSP) ends, if you’re claiming it
Once you’ve applied, you’ll be contacted by phone and told when to give the evidence and where to send it.
You’ll normally get the ‘assessment rate’ for 13 weeks while your claim is being assessed.
This will be:
- up to £67.20 a week if you’re aged under 25
- up to £84.80 a week if you’re aged 25 or over
If it takes longer than 13 weeks to assess your claim, you’ll continue getting the ‘assessment rate’ until you get a decision or until your ESA is due to end.
You’ll be placed into one of two groups if you’re entitled to ESA following your assessment. If you’re able to get back into work in the future, you’ll be put into the work-related activity group. Otherwise, you’ll be put into the support group.
You’ll get:
- up to £84.80 a week if you’re in the work-related activity group
- up to £128.85 a week if you’re in the support group
You will get ESA every two weeks. If you’re in the support group and on income-related ESA, you’re also entitled to the enhanced disability premium. You may also qualify for the severe disability premium. These are extra amounts of money added to your ESA and you can find out more about them here.
What health conditions qualify for ESA?
According to DWP data, there are 23 groups of health conditions that could see you qualify for ESA. They are:
- Certain infectious and parasitic diseases
- Neoplasms
- Diseases of the blood and blood forming organs and certain diseases involving the immune mechanism
- Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases
- Mental and behavioural disorders
- Diseases of the nervous system
- Diseases of the eye and adnexa
- Diseases of the ear and mastoid process
- Diseases of the circulatory system
- Diseases of the respiratory system
- Diseases of the digestive system
- Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous system
- Disease of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue
- Diseases of the genito-urinary system
- Pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium
- Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period
- Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities
- Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings not elsewhere classified
- Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
- External causes of morbidity and mortality
- Factors influencing health status and contact with health services
- Codes for special purposes
- Unknown or claimants without diagnosis on the system
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