New Style Employment and Support Allowance
You may be able to claim New Style Employment and Support Allowance with, or instead of Universal Credit, depending on your National Insurance record.
Overview
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.
This guidance is also available in an easy read format.
Why should you claim New Style Employment and Support Allowance?
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.
It is a regular fortnightly payment.
This table shows what you may be able to claim depending on your circumstances.
| Your situation | New Style ESA | Universal Credit |
|---|---|---|
| You’ve lost your job and you’re too sick to work. You need help with living costs e.g. rent. You’ve paid and/or been credited with NI contributions in the last 2 to 3 years (employed or self–employed). |
You can claim New Style ESA – even if your partner works or you and your partner have savings over £16,000 | You can also claim UC if you (and your partner) have £16,000 or less in savings between you. Your partner’s income will be taken into account as you will need to claim UC as a couple. UC is a household assessment and you can receive an amount for children and housing costs. Any New Style ESA you receive will also be taken into account as income but you may still get UC. |
| You’ve lost your job and you’re too sick to work. You have not paid any NI contributions in the last 2 to 3 years |
You are unlikely to get New Style ESA if you have not paid NI contributions. | You can claim UC if you (and your partner) have £16,000 or less in savings between you. Your partner’s income will be taken into account as you will need to claim UC as a couple. UC is a household assessment and you can receive an amount for children and housing costs. |
| You’re ill and unable to work. You’ve paid and/or been credited with NI contributions in the last 2 to 3 years (employed or self–employed). Between you, you and your partner have more than £16,000 in savings. |
You can claim New Style ESA even if your partner works or you and your partner have savings over £16,000. | You are unlikely to get UC because your savings are too high. |
| You’re ill and unable to work. You’ve paid and/or been credited with NI contributions in the last 2 to 3 years (employed or self–employed). Your partner works. Between you, you and your partner have less than £16,000 in savings. |
You can claim New Style ESA, as your partner’s work does not affect it. | You can also claim UC as you and your partner have less than £16,000 in savings. Your partner’s income will be taken into account as you will need to claim UC as a couple. Any New Style ESA you receive will also be taken into account as income but you may still get UC. |
| You work but you’re off sick and your Statutory Sick Pay has ended. You’ve paid and/or been credited with NI contributions in the last 2 to 3 years (employed or self–employed). |
You can claim New Style ESA. | If you and your partner have less than £16,000 of savings you might also get UC. |
| You’re ill and unable to work. You receive pension income from previous employment. You’ve paid and/or been credited with NI contributions in the last 2 to 3 years (employed or self–employed). |
You can claim New Style ESA. Your pension income may be taken into account. |
If you and your partner have less than £16,000 of savings you might also get UC. Your pension income will be taken into account. Any New Style ESA you receive will also be taken into account as income but you may still get UC. |
| You’re ill and unable to work. You have children. You’ve paid and/or been credited with NI contributions in the last 2 to 3 years (employed or self-employed). |
You can claim New Style ESA as you have paid NI contributions so may qualify. New Style ESA does not include additional amounts for children. |
You can also claim UC, as it is a household assessment and you can receive an amount for children. |
| You’re ill and unable to work. You live in rented accommodation, or have a mortgage or home loan, and need help to pay the cost. You’ve paid and/or been credited with NI contributions in the last 2 to 3 years (employed or self-employed). |
You can claim New Style ESA as you have paid NI contributions so may qualify. New Style ESA does not include an additional amount for housing costs. |
You can also claim UC, as it is a household assessment and you can receive an amount for your housing costs. |
Eligibility
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.
How to apply
There’s a different way to apply:
- in Northern Ireland
- if you’re nearing the end of life (for example, due to a life-limiting illness)
Apply online
You can apply for New Style ESA online.
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 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
You must apply by phone if you’re an appointee applying on behalf of someone else.
You cannot get New Style ESA if you’re getting Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) from an employer. You can apply for New Style ESA up to 3 months before your SSP ends.
If you cannot apply online
Call the Jobcentre Plus new claims helpline if:
- you cannot make an application online
- you’re an appointee for someone
Jobcentre Plus new claims helpline
Telephone: 0800 055 6688
Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 055 6688
British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service if you’re on a computer - find out how to use the service on mobile or tablet
Welsh language telephone: 0800 328 1744
Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm
Find out about call charges
After you apply
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will contact you within 10 working days of applying.
If you’re eligible
DWP will contact you within 10 working days to schedule an appointment that you must attend. It will normally be over the phone with a work coach from your local Jobcentre Plus office.
Your work coach will explain what you need to do to get New Style ESA. They will create an agreement with you called a ‘Claimant Commitment’.
You must agree to your ‘Claimant Commitment’ before you can get New Style ESA.
At the appointment, you’ll be asked to:
- explain how your illness or disability affects your ability to work
- provide medical evidence
- agree to tell your local Jobcentre Plus if your circumstances change
You will not need to attend an appointment or make a Claimant Commitment if you’re nearing the end of life (for example, due to a life-limiting illness).
If you’re not eligible
DWP will send you a letter within 10 working days of applying to explain why you’re not eligible for ESA.
Work Capability Assessment
You must fill in the ‘Capability for work questionnaire’ and send it to the Health Assessment Advisory Service. The address is on the form. The questionnaire is different in Northern Ireland.
You’ll be told what happens next, for example if you need an appointment to understand your health condition better.
A Work Capability Assessment is used to find out if your illness or disability affects how much you can work.
If you need a Work Capability Assessment you’ll get a letter telling you what to do.
You might not need one, for example if you’re in hospital or if you’re nearing the end of life (for example, due to a life-limiting illness).
If you’re claiming both Universal Credit and New Style ESA, you’ll only have one Work Capability Assessment.
All telephone and face-to-face health assessments will now be audio recorded. More information, including how to opt-out, can be found in the health assessment audio recording guidance.
How the assessment happens
Assessments can be in person, by video call or on the phone. You’ll be told how your assessment will take place.
If you’re asked to attend in person you’ll be told how to do this safely because of coronavirus (COVID-19).
You can have someone else with you at your assessment, for example a friend or support worker. If your assessment is by video call or on the phone, you can ask the assessor to call the person if they’re not with you when the assessment starts.
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 you’re nearing the end of life (for example, due to a life-limiting illness)
If you’re in the work-related activity group
You must attend regular interviews with a work coach. They can help you improve your skills or write a CV to help you get back into work.
If you’re in the support group
You’re usually in this group if your illness or disability severely limits what you can do. You do not have to go to interviews. You can tell your work coach if you’d like to take part in work-related activities.
How long you’ll get ESA for
New Style ESA lasts for 365 days if you’re in the work-related activity group.
There’s no time limit if you’re in the support group.
To keep getting ESA you must report any change in your circumstances. You may also need to send fit notes regularly.
If you get a sanction
Your ESA can be reduced if you do not attend interviews or do work-related activity as agreed with your work coach in your ‘Claimant Commitment’. This reduction can continue for up to 4 weeks after you restart work-related activities.
You’ll get a letter to say you may be sanctioned. Tell your work coach if you have a good reason for not doing what was agreed in your ‘Claimant Commitment’.
You’ll get another letter if the decision is made to give you a sanction. Your benefit will only be affected once a decision has been made.
You should contact your local council immediately if you claim Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction. They’ll tell you what to do to continue getting support.
If you get a sanction you can ask for the decision to be looked at again.
You will not get a sanction if you’re in the support group.
If you’ve been paid too much
If you give wrong or incomplete information or do not report a change straight away, you might be paid too much. If you are, you might have to pay some of the money back.