Guidance

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.

From:
Department for Work and Pensions
Published
7 December 2016
Last updated
11 November 2022 — See all updates

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

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.

Apply now

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
Textphone: 0800 328 1344
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:

If a medical professional has said you might have less than 12 months to live, you will not need to attend an appointment or make a Claimant Commitment. Find out more about getting benefits if you might have less than 12 months to live.

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 you have been told by a medical professional that you might have less than 12 months to live.

If you’re claiming both Universal Credit and New Style ESA, you’ll only have one Work Capability Assessment.

You can ask for your assessment to be recorded. If you would like this, tell the Health Assessment Advisory Service using the contact details in your appointment invite letter.

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 a medical professional has said you might have less than 12 months to live

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.

Updates to this page

Published 7 December 2016
Last updated 11 November 2022 + show all updates

  1. Link to Easy Read version of guidance has been added.

  2. From 1 July 2022, you can get a fit note to support your claim from a registered nurse, occupational therapist, pharmacist or physiotherapist. as well as from a GP or hospital doctor.

  3. Removed guidance on claiming New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) if you had to self isolate because of coronavirus (COVID-19). You can no longer claim ESA under the rules introduced during the pandemic for people who had to self isolate.

  4. People near the end of their life who have been told by a medical professional that they might have less than 12 months to live, do not need attend an appointment at the start of their claim for Employment and Support Allowance or make a Claimant Commitment and they will be put in the 'support group'. This has changed from 6 months.

  5. Updated the guidance on claiming New Style Employment and Support Allowance because of coronavirus (COVID-19) because the temporary eligibility rules have ended.

  6. The service to apply for New Style Employment and Support Allowance will be unavailable from 6pm on Thursday 17 March to 00:01am on Friday 18 March.

  7. Updated to explain a change to the rules for claiming Employment and Support Allowance that mean if a medical professional has said you have less than 6 months to live, you will not need a Claimant Commitment and you will be placed in the support group after your claim is assessed.

  8. Added a message about not having to provide fit notes (sick notes) until 27 January 2022 to give GPs more time to work on the coronavirus vaccination boosters.

  9. Clarified that if you get Universal Credit as well as New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), your Universal Credit payment is reduced by the amount you get for New Style ESA.

  10. Updated the eligibility conditions for New Style ESA if you've been affected by coronavirus (COVID-19) for the new rules on returning from abroad.

  11. Removed guidance on claiming New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) because you or your child were advised to ‘shield’ (take extra precautions to reduce contact with others) because you’re at very high risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Shielding in England, Scotland and Wales has stopped and the time limit for making a backdated claim has passed.

  12. Updated because face-to-face Work Capability Assessments have resumed for some claimants.

  13. Added guidance about needing to attend an interview with a work coach after you have made a claim and attending regular interviews with a work coach if you are in the 'work-related activity group'.

  14. Shielding in England and Wales has stopped. You can still apply for ESA if you were shielding in England or shielding in Wales before 1 April 2021, or if you’re shielding in Scotland.

  15. From 27 January 2021 you can claim New Style ESA if you’re getting Severe Disability Premium (SDP), or if you received SDP in the last month and are still eligible for it.

  16. Replaced guidance that you do not need to go to an appointment with a work coach at the moment with new guidance that DWP will make an appointment to talk to you, either over the phone or face-to-face.

  17. Added information about benefit overpayments.

  18. Added guidance on evidence you'll need to provide if you're claiming New Style Employment and Support Allowance because of coronavirus (COVID-19).

  19. Updated guidance to explain that Work Capability Assessments are currently taking place over the phone because of coronavirus (COVID-19).

  20. Universal Credit claimants should now apply for New Style Employment and Support Allowance online or by phone instead of through their online account.

  21. Updated guidance with link to new service to apply for New Style Employment and Support Allowance online and for new eligibility conditions introduced because of coronavirus (COVID-19).

  22. Updated with a revised process to apply for New Style Employment and Support Allowance.

  23. Eligibility section amended to include information about Class 2 national contributions.

  24. 'New Style' Employment and Support Allowance claimant guides (print and fold versions) updated.

  25. Added Welsh translations.

  26. 'New style' Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) content updated and printable 'new style' ESA claimant guide added.

  27. Amended wording from 'you must have a Work Capability Assessment' to 'you may be required to attend a Work Capability Assessment'.

  28. Updated the weekly amount you receive if you're in the support group in line with changes to benefit rates for the 2019/2020 financial year.

  29. Updated the guidance on how to claim new style Employment and Support Allowance.

  30. Removed Universal Credit live telephone details as no longer relevant.

  31. Updated guidance to reflect that new claims to Universal Credit can now be made by households with more than 2 children.

  32. Updated Welsh guide with information about how the severe disability premium might affect a claim.

  33. Added information about how the Severe Disability Premium may affect your claim to new style Employment and Support Allowance.

  34. Updated to show that Universal Credit is now available everywhere in Great Britain.

  35. Universal Credit live service telephone helpline opening hours changed to 9am to 4pm.

  36. Added translation

  37. Added translation

  38. Added translation

  39. Added information about if you have more than 2 children.

  40. Updated the weekly amount you receive if you're in the Support group in line with changes to benefit rates for the 2018/2019 financial year.

  41. Explained that claimants will be placed in either the work-related activity group or the support group after their Work Capability Assessment instead of after 13 weeks. The timeframe can vary.

  42. Updated for changes to who can claim new style Employment and Support Allowance from 1 January 2018 if you don't live in a Universal Credit full service area.

  43. Updated guide with new 0800 freephone numbers for Universal Credit.

  44. Corrected the weekly amounts of new style Employment and Support Allowance for people who are still entitled after 13 weeks.

  45. First published.

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