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ESA helps with living costs if you are unable to work
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is a benefit for people in the UK who are either unable to work or have limited capability to work due to an illness or disability. If you are assessed as being unable to go back to work by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) due to your condition, you will be placed in what is known as a support group and receive money to help you with living costs.
The ESA Support Group is for those who have such severe health problems that it is unreasonable for the DWP to expect them to be able to work.
To be able to claim ESA, you must be at least 16 years of age and below state pension age.
The weekly ESA Support Group rate is up to £138.20 per week (£90.50 rate + £47.70 support component) following a successful claim.
Two types of Employment and Support Allowance
- Income-related ESA
- Contributory / New Style ESA
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Income-related ESA has been replaced by Universal Credit.
You can only continue to get income-related ESA if you currently receive it and meet the eligibility criteria. Or you or your partner are receiving the contribution-based ESA which you started to claim before your area became a Full Digital Service Area.
Contributory / New Style Employment and Support Allowance
Most people claim new style ESA. You can apply for New Style ESA if you are under State Pension age and have difficulties to work due to a health condition or disability.
In addition to having limited capability to work, you must have met National Insurance conditions for two tax years. This means you must have a full year of contributions for both tax years. Either both full years of employment or self-employment. Or one full year employment or self-employment and the other year from National Insurance credits.
Your National Insurance record will be checked as part of your application.
How much is ESA in 2024/25?
While your claim is being assessed, which usually takes 13 weeks, you will receive the following weekly amount:
People aged under 25 – £71.70 per week
People aged over 25 – £90.50 per week
You will continue to get the assessment rate until a decision has been made. Your ESA will be backdated if you are owed any money after 13 weeks.
The DWP will then decide whether you are eligible or not using a points system. If you score more than 15 points, you have limited capability to work.
You will be placed in one of two groups and receive payment accordingly.
Work-related group rate:
For people aged over 25 – £126.45 per week (£90.50 + £35.95 work-related activity component)
ESA Support Group rate:
For people aged over 25 – £138.20 per week (£90.50 + £47.70 support component)
Employment Support Allowance (ESA) tops up workers’ pay if they’re on a low income.
How much is ESA in 2025/26?
Work-related group rate:
For people aged over 25 – £128.60 per week (£92.05 + £36.55 work-related activity component)
ESA Support Group rate:
For people aged over 25 – £140.55 per week (£92.05 + £48.50 support component)
Claiming for Employment and Support Allowance
When you make a claim for ESA, you must prove that you have limited capability to work. This is done through the Work Capability Assessment. The DWP use the assessment to make a decision.
You will be sent a questionnaire called ESA50, which you need to complete and return. If you find it difficult to do this yourself, you can ask a family member, friend or relative to help you.
The questionnaire asks about your health condition, illnesses, disabilities care or treatment plans, mobility, medication and more.
Questions also relate to mental health conditions, such as depression, learning difficulties and more.
If you have a terminal illness you will automatically be placed in the support group without having to be assessed.
You may also have to attend a face-to-face assessment with a healthcare professional who will report their findings to the DWP.
ESA Support Group eligibility
The ESA Support Group is for those who are living with severe disabilities or health conditions which makes it unreasonable to require them to engage in work-related activities.
The DWP uses a number of descriptors to assess whether you meet the eligibility for the support group.
Examples of descriptors
Below are 12 examples of descriptors – if one or more descriptors applies to you, you will be placed in the support group.
1. You cannot unaided by another person either:
- mobilise more than 50 metres on level ground without stopping in order to avoid significant discomfort or exhaustion; or
- repeatedly mobilise 50 metres within a reasonable timescale because of significant discomfort or exhaustion
2. You cannot move between one seated position and another seated position located next to one another without receiving physical assistance from another person
3. You cannot raise either arm as if to put something in the top pocket of a coat or jacket
4. You cannot pick up and move a 0.5 litre carton full of liquid
5. You cannot pick up a £1 coin or equivalent with either hand
6. You cannot press a button (such as a telephone keypad) with either hand or cannot turn the pages of a book with either hand
7. You cannot convey a simple message, such as the presence of a hazard
8. You have significant difficulty conveying a simple message to strangers
9. You have significant difficulty understanding a simple message from a stranger due to sensory impairment
10. You are unable to navigate around familiar surroundings, without being accompanied by another person, due to sensory impairment
11. You cannot learn how to complete a simple task, such as setting an alarm clock
12. Cannot cope with any change to the extent that day to day life cannot be managed
A full list of descriptors and guide to the ESA Work Capability Assessment can be found on the government’s website.
If you are placed in the Support Group, the DWP will re-assess your ability to work periodically. This could be up to every three years at maximum.
A full list of descriptors and guide to the ESA Work Capability Assessment can be found on the government’s website.
How to apply for Employment Support Allowance
To apply for ESA, you will need:
- Your National Insurance number
- Bank account number and sort code
- Name, address and phone number of your doctor
- Details of income if working
- The date your Statutory Sick Pay ends if you are claiming it
If you are in the support group, you will also be eligible for Enhanced Disability Premium and you may qualify for Severe Disability Premium. Learn more about Disability Premiums by following the link below.
How to claim disability premiums: Severe and Enhanced
Can you get PIP and ESA?
Yes you can claim both Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and Employment Support Allowance (ESA) at the same time. PIP is a totally different benefit. In fact if you have been awarded PIP you may be eligible for a top up on your income-related ESA award.
