Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) explained

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is money for people who cannot work, or can only work a little, because of an illness or disability. Today, the only type you can make a new claim for is New Style ESA.

What ESA is for

ESA is about work. It asks one question: does your health limit how much you can work?

This is different from PIP, which is about the extra costs of a disability. You can get ESA and PIP at the same time, and many people do.

The two types of ESA

• New Style ESA is based on the National Insurance you have paid or been credited with, usually in the last 2 to 3 tax years. Your savings and your partner's income do not matter. This is the type you can claim now.
• Income-related ESA was for people on a low income. It is closed to new claims. Almost everyone who got it has now been moved to Universal Credit. Most moves were finished by 31 March 2026, with a small number of people given extra time.

If you do not have enough National Insurance, or you need help with rent or have a low income, claim Universal Credit instead. You can also get New Style ESA and Universal Credit at the same time.

Who can get New Style ESA?

You may be able to get New Style ESA if:

• you have an illness or disability that affects how much you can work
• you are under State Pension age
• you have paid, or been credited with, enough National Insurance
• you have a fit note if you have been ill for more than 7 days
• you are not getting Statutory Sick Pay (you can claim ESA when it ends)

You can claim whether or not you are in work, as long as you are too ill to work or only work a little under the permitted work rules.

How much you can get, 2026 to 2027

Some pensions over £85 a week can reduce New Style ESA. ESA is taxable.

The two groups

After the Work Capability Assessment, the DWP puts you in one of two groups, or decides you are fit for work.

• Work-related activity group: you cannot work now, but may be able to in future. You must go to work-focused interviews. New Style ESA in this group is usually paid for up to 365 days.
• Support group: your illness or disability has a severe effect on your ability to work. You do not have to do any work-related activity. There is no time limit.

Read the Work Capability Assessment explained.

How ESA relates to disability

• You do not need a particular diagnosis. ESA looks at what you can and cannot do, such as moving around, using your hands, staying safe, and coping with people and change. Physical and mental health count equally.
• Being disabled does not mean you get ESA. Many disabled people work. ESA is only for people whose health limits their work.
• PIP and ESA are assessed separately. Getting one does not mean you get the other, but the same evidence often helps both.
• ESA does not stop you getting PIP, Blue Badges or other disability help. See our disability support guides.
• Terminally ill? If you may have 12 months or less to live, you go straight into the support group without a full assessment.

Working while on ESA

You may be able to do a small amount of paid work, called permitted work, without losing ESA. This is usually less than 16 hours a week, within a weekly earnings limit. Tell the DWP before you start. Some voluntary work is allowed too.

How to claim

You can claim New Style ESA online at GOV.UK or by phone. You will need your National Insurance number, bank details, your GP's details and a fit note. Read our guide on how to claim ESA.

Changes coming

The government plans to replace the Work Capability Assessment and to bring New Style ESA and Jobseeker's Allowance together into a new unemployment insurance payment. No date is fixed yet. Read what is changing for health and disability benefits.