Eligibility
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 (nsESA).
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.
Contribution based ESA
All claims for Contributory Employment and Support Allowance have now been converted to new-style Employment and Support Allowance, the eligibility criteria and amounts awarded remain the same.
New-style ESA provides financial help to people who are unable to work because of illness or disability.
Claiming nsESA and UC at the same time
New Style ESA (nsESA) 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.
Savings and nsESA
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).
Private Pensions and ESA
If you get New Style ESA, your payments will be affected if you get more than £85 a week from a private pension. If you do, half of your private pension income over £85 will be subtracted from your ESA payments each week.
For example, if you get £100 a week from a private pension, then £7.50 will be subtracted from your ESA payment each week.
If your private pension income is high enough, you could get no ESA payments. You would still get Class 1 National Insurance credits.
How to apply
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.
How nsESA is paid
New Style ESA is paid every two weeks, initially you will receive a lower amount called the ‘assessment rate’. 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
Last Updated on June 10, 2026 by Ashford Advice