Employment Support Allowance (ESA) is available if you have a disability or health condition that impacts how much you can work.
If you have a disability or health condition that affects your ability to work, you might be eligible for additional financial support from the Government.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) offers Employment Support Allowance (ESA) to millions of people in the UK.
This benefit can be used to cover living costs if you’re unable to work, or as support to help you return to work if you’re able to do so. Whether you’re employed, self-employed or unemployed, you can apply for ESA.
Here’s how much you could receive and how to determine if you’re eligible.
Who is eligible for ESA?
You can apply for ‘new-style’ ESA if you are below state pension age and have a disability or health condition that affects your ability to work. However, you must also have worked as an employee or been self-employed and paid sufficient National Insurance contributions – usually within the last two to three years, reports Chronicle Live.
You won’t be eligible for new-style ESA if you’re receiving Jobseeker’s Allowance or statutory sick pay. But you might qualify if you’re receiving Universal Credit simultaneously.
Be aware though, any Universal Credit payment you receive will be reduced by the amount you get for new-style ESA if you qualify for both.
According to the latest figures from the DWP, there are 23 groups of health conditions that could make you eligible for ESA. They include:.
- Certain infectious and parasitic diseases
- Neoplasms
- Diseases of the blood and blood forming organs and certain diseases involving the immune mechanism
- Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases
- Mental and behavioural disorders
- Diseases of the nervous system
- Diseases of the eye and adnexa
- Diseases of the ear and mastoid process
- Diseases of the circulatory system
- Diseases of the respiratory system
- Diseases of the digestive system
- Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous system
- Disease of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue
- Diseases of the genito-urinary system
- Pregnancy, childbirth, and the puerperium
- Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period
- Congenital malformations, deformations, and chromosomal abnormalities
- Symptoms, signs, and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings not elsewhere classified
- Injury, poisoning, and certain other consequences of external causes
- External causes of morbidity and mortality
- Factors influencing health status and contact with health services
- Codes for special purposes
- Unknown or claimants without diagnosis on the system
How much ESA you could receive
The 6.7% increase in benefits brought in in April means that if you’re eligible, you’ll now receive more ESA than last year. The new weekly rates are as follows:.
Single
- Single, under 25: £71.70 (from £67.20)
- Single, 25 or over: £90.50 (from £84.80)
- Lone parent, under 18: £71.70 (from £67.20)
- Lone parent, over 18: £90.50 (from £80.50)
Couple
- Both under 18: £71.70 from (67.20)
- Both under 18 with child: £108.30 (from £101.50)
- Both under 18 (main phase): £90.50 (from £84.80)
- Both under 18 with child (main phase): £142.30 (from £133.30)
- Both over 18: £142.25 (from £133.30)
Premiums
- Enhanced disability, single: £20.85 (from £19.55)
- Enhanced disability, couple: £29.75 (from £27.90)
- Severe disability, single: £81.50 (from £76.40)
- Severe disability, couple (lower rate): £81.50 (from £76.40)
- Severe disability, couple (higher rate): £163 (from £152.80)
- Carer: £45.60 (from £42.75)
- Pensioner, single with work-related activity component: £91.70 (from £82.55)
- Pensioner, single with support component: £79.95 (from £71.55)
- Pensioner, single with no component: £127.65 (from £116.25)
- Pensioner, couple with work-related activity component: £154.75 (from £139.85)
- Pensioner, couple with support component: £143 (from £128.85)
- Pensioner, couple with no component: £190.70 (from £173.55)
- Work-related Activity: £35.95 (from £33.70)
- Support Group: £47.70 (from £44.70)
However, bear in mind that ESA is paid out fortnightly. So, for instance, if you’re single and over 25, you’ll receive £181 every two weeks, or £362 if you get two payments within a four-week period.
You can apply for ESA online here or ring 0800 055 6688.