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Employment and Support Allowance

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) was introduced on 27 October 2008.

It replaced Incapacity Benefit and Income Support, paid because of an illness or disability, for new claimants only. If you already receive Incapacity Benefit, you will continue to receive it.

• Employment and Support Allowance (disabled people section)

Who is eligible?

You may be able to claim Incapacity Benefit if any of the following apply to you:

• your Statutory Sick Pay has ended, or you can't get it
• you are self employed or unemployed
• you have been getting Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) and have not gone back to work for your employer because you are incapable of work
• you were under State Pension age when you became sick
  

You must also have been:

•  paying National Insurance Contributions
•  unable to work due to sickness or disability for at least four days in a row (including weekends and public holidays)
• getting special medical treatment and unable to work for two or more days out of seven consecutive days
  

or you must:

• be aged between 16 and 20 (or under 25 if you were in education or training at least three months immediately before turning 20), and
• have been too ill to work because of sickness or disability for at least 28 weeks, and
• have been too ill to work before you turned 20 (or 25 if you were in education or training at least three months immediately before turning 20)

If you've been living or working abroad

Living or working abroad can affect your Incapacity Benefit claim. But you may be able to claim if you've either:

If you haven't paid enough National Insurance contributions

You may be able to claim Incapacity Benefit even if you haven't paid enough National Insurance contributions if the following apply:

If you're in the Armed Forces or you live and work within the European Economic Area (EEA), you may still be treated as being resident in the UK.

• Special rules if you're discharged from the Armed Forces Opens new window
• How to receive Incapacity Benefit in a EEA country Opens new window
• Contact Jobcentre Plus Opens new window

How it works

Incapacity Benefit is paid at three weekly rates:

How much do you get?

Current weekly amounts

You may be able to get extra benefit - an 'age addition' - with your long-term Incapacity Benefit if you were under 45 when you became too ill or disabled to work.

You may be able to get extra benefit for your partner, civil partner or the person who looks after your children.

• Contact Jobcentre Plus Opens new window

How it's paid

Incapacity Benefit is paid into your bank, building society, Post Office® or National Savings account that accepts Direct Payment.

If you're registered blind or need someone who cares for you to collect your money, your payment can be sent by cheque and cashed at the Post Office®.

• The difference between Direct Payment and 'direct payments'

Personal Capability Assessment and medical examination

When you make a claim for Incapacity Benefit you'll usually have a Personal Capability Assessment.

As part of this, a doctor may recommend that you attend a medical examination.

• Medical examination (disabled people section)

Working while claiming Incapacity Benefit - 'Permitted Work'

If you're getting Incapacity Benefit you may be able to do some types of work - within limits. This is called 'Permitted Work'. But if you get Incapacity Benefit and a wage, this could affect income-related benefits you receive, like Income Support, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit.

• Working while claiming Incapacity Benefit - 'Permitted Work' (disabled people section)

How to claim

You can claim Incapacity Benefit by doing one of the following:

• Claim online - Incapacity Benefit Opens new window
• Download Incapacity Benefit claim form (PDF document, 188K) Opens new window
• Download Incapacity Benefit (under the Incapacity in Youth rules) claim form (PDF document, 294.84K) Opens new window
• Help with PDF files
• Contact Jobcentre Plus Opens new window

What to do if your circumstances change

It's important you contact your local Jobcentre Plus office if your circumstances change - for example if:

For more information, you can contact your local Jobcentre Plus office.

• Contact Jobcentre Plus Opens new window

How to appeal

If you're refused Incapacity Benefit or have questions about your payment, you can ask the office that dealt with your claim to look again at their decision.

If you're still unhappy with the outcome, you can appeal.

• How to appeal against a benefits decision

Tax credits and other support from government

You may be able to get Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit if you're responsible for at least one child or on a low income.

You can order a claim pack over the phone by calling one of the helplines.

If you live in England, Scotland or Wales call 0845 300 3900 or textphone 0845 300 3909.

If you live in Northern Ireland call 0845 603 2000, textphone 0845 607 6078.

Lines are open every day from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm.

Or you can pick up a claim pack from your nearest HMRC Enquiry Centre or Jobcentre Plus office.

• Tax credits
• Contact your nearest HMRC Enquiry Centre Opens new window
• Contact Jobcentre Plus Opens new window

More useful links

• Guide to financial support for disabled people (disabled people section)
• What to do about gaps in your National Insurance record
• Temporary stays in a care home (home and community section)