Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

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What you'll get

How much you get will depend on what stage your application is at, as well as things like your age and whether you鈥檙e able to get back into work.

If you get New Style ESA you鈥檒l earn Class 1 National Insurance credits, which can help towards your State Pension and some benefits in the future.

What might affect how much you get paid

If you get New Style ESA

Your payments will be affected if you get more than 拢85 a week from a private pension. If you do, half of your private pension income over 拢85 will be subtracted from your ESA payments each week.

For example, if you get 拢100 a week from a private pension, then 拢7.50 will be subtracted from your ESA payment each week.

If your private pension income is high enough, you could get no ESA payments. You would still get Class 1 National Insurance credits.

You cannot make a new claim for income-related ESA. You鈥檒l continue to get payments while you鈥檙e eligible until your claim ends.

Your household income and savings worth 拢6,000 or more may affect how much you can get.

While your claim is being assessed

You鈥檒l normally get the 鈥榓ssessment rate鈥� for 13 weeks while your claim is being assessed.

This will be:

  • up to 拢72.90 a week if you鈥檙e aged under 25
  • up to 拢92.05 a week if you鈥檙e aged 25 or over

If it takes longer than 13 weeks to assess your claim, you鈥檒l continue getting the 鈥榓ssessment rate鈥� until you get a decision or until your ESA is due to end.

Your ESA will be backdated if you鈥檙e owed any money after 13 weeks.

After you鈥檙e assessed

You鈥檒l be placed into one of 2 groups if you鈥檙e entitled to ESA. If you鈥檙e able to get back into work in the future, you鈥檒l be put into the work-related activity group. Otherwise, you鈥檒l be put into the support group.

If you鈥檙e nearing the end of life, you鈥檒l be put into the support group.

You鈥檒l get:

  • up to 拢92.05 a week if you鈥檙e in the work-related activity group聽
  • up to 拢140.55 a week if you鈥檙e in the support group

If you鈥檙e in the support group

If you鈥檙e in the support group and on income-related ESA, you鈥檙e also entitled to the enhanced disability premium.

You may also qualify for the severe disability premium.

Find out how to apply for a disability premium.

How and when you鈥檙e paid

You鈥檒l get paid ESA every 2 weeks.

Find out how and when your benefits are paid.

Other benefits you can claim

You could get Universal Credit at the same time or instead of New Style ESA. Check if you鈥檙e eligible for Universal Credit.

Use a benefits calculator to find out what other benefits you could get, for example Personal Independence Payment (PIP) if you have a long-term health condition or disability.

The benefit cap may affect the total amount of benefit you can get. The cap will not affect you if you鈥檙e in the support group.

If your income-related ESA claim is ending because you鈥檙e making a new claim for Universal Credit, you鈥檒l automatically continue to get the amount of ESA you currently receive, as long as you鈥檙e still eligible. You鈥檒l normally get this for 2 weeks, starting from the date of your new claim.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will write to you telling you how this works.

You do not need to pay this money back, and it will not affect the amount of Universal Credit you get.

Budgeting Loan

You can apply for a Budgeting Loan if you鈥檝e been on income-related ESA for at least 6 months.

Advice on money and debt

You can get help and advice from your Jobcentre Plus work coach or:

View a printable version of the whole guide

Part of How to claim New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA): step by step

  1. Step 1 Check if you're eligible

    1. Check if you're eligible for ESA

    You might also be eligible for Universal Credit.

    1. Find out about Universal Credit

  2. and Start your claim

    1. Find out how to start your claim

  3. Step 2 Attend the appointment with your work coach

    You'll agree what actions you need to take to get payments. This is called a 'Claimant Commitment'.

  4. Step 3 Get your first payment

    You鈥檒l get a letter telling you if you鈥檒l get New Style ESA and how much.

    1. You are currently viewing: How much you're paid

  5. and Give updates about your health and circumstances

    To keep getting New Style ESA you must send fit notes regularly and report any change in your circumstances.

    1. Send a fit note
    2. Report any change in your circumstances

  6. Step 4 Fill in and send the ESA50 form

    You'll get form ESA50 in the post within 4 weeks of your first payment. Return it within 28 days.

  7. Step 5 Attend a Work Capability Assessment

    You may need to go for a Work Capability Assessment. If you do, you'll get a letter telling you where to go and when.

  8. Step 6 Get a decision about how much you'll get

    You'll get a letter with a decision. It will also tell you if you'll need to be assessed again.

    1. You are currently viewing: How much you can get
    2. Find out how to challenge the decision

    To keep getting the right amount you'll need to report any change in your circumstances.

    1. Report a change of circumstances

  9. Step 7 Check if your payments will stop or if you'll be reassessed

    You'll be told if your payments will stop and when.

    1. Get support from Jobcentre Plus when your payments stop

    If you'll need to be assessed again, you'll be sent an ESA50 form. This is normally within 3 years.