If you are ill or have a health condition or disability that limits your ability to work you may be able to get New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
New Style ESA is a fortnightly payment that can be claimed on its own or at the same time as Universal Credit (UC). If you get both benefits, your Universal Credit payment is reduced by the amount you get for New Style ESA.
New Style ESA is a contributory benefit. Normally, this means you may be able to get it if you’ve paid or been credited with enough National Insurance contributions in the 2 full tax years before the year you’re claiming in.
Your (or your partner’s) savings will not affect how much New Style ESA you’re paid. If your partner works, it does not affect your claim.
Most income is not taken into account (but a personal pension can affect the amount you may receive).
While you receive New Style ESA you’ll earn Class 1 National Insurance credits, which can help towards your State Pension and other contributory benefits in the future.
To get New Style ESA you usually need to have been working within the last 2 to 3 years, and have made (or been credited with) Class 1 or Class 2 National Insurance contributions. This can be through employment or self–employment.
If you’re not sure how much National Insurance you’ve paid, you can check your National Insurance record online.
You can apply for New Style ESA online
You must also fill in the ‘Capability for work questionnaire’ and send it to the Health Assessment Advisory Service. The address is on the form.
You’ll stay on the ‘assessment rate’ until a decision can be made on your Work Capability Assessment.
After your claim is assessed, if you’re entitled to ESA you’ll be placed in one of 2 groups:
- a work-related activity group (you cannot work now, but can prepare to work in the future, for example by writing a CV)
- a support group (you cannot work now and you’re not expected to prepare for work in the future)
You will:
- usually be in the support group if your illness or disability severely limits what you can do
- be in the support group if a medical professional has said you might have less than 12 months to live