Government guidance on support available through the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) provides details on all of the circumstances in which people can apply for support.
Those eligible for Employment and Support Allowance can apply for ‘new style’ Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) if you’re under State Pension age and you have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work.
You can apply for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) if you have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work. You also need to have both worked as an employee or have been self-employed and paid enough National Insurance contributions, usually in the last 2 to 3 years - National Insurance credits also count.
The money aims to help with living costs if you’re unable to work. It can also support to get back into work if you’re able to.
Here is a breakdown of information you need to know about the benefit including how much you get, what health conditions qualify and how to get the money, Chronicle Live reports.
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How much is ESA and how do I apply?
You can apply for ESA online here or by phone on 0800 055 6688. You’ll need:
- your National Insurance number
- your bank or building society account number and sort code (you can use a friend or family member’s account if you do not have one)
- your doctor’s name, address and telephone number
- a fit note (sometimes called a ‘sick note’ or a ‘statement of fitness for work’) if you’ve not been able to work for more than 7 days in a row because of a disability or health condition
- details of your income, if you’re working
- the date your statutory sick pay (SSP) ends, if you’re claiming it
Once you’ve applied, you’ll be contacted by phone and told when to give the evidence and where to send it. You’ll normally get the ‘assessment rate’ for 13 weeks while your claim is being assessed.
This will be:
- up to £67.20 a week if you’re aged under 25
- up to £84.80 a week if you’re aged 25 or over
If it takes longer than 13 weeks to assess your claim, you’ll continue getting the ‘assessment rate’ until you get a decision or until your ESA is due to end. You’ll be placed into one of two groups if you’re entitled to ESA following your assessment.
If you’re able to get back into work in the future, you’ll be put into the work-related activity group. Otherwise, you’ll be put into the support group.
You’ll get:
- up to £84.80 a week if you’re in the work-related activity group
- up to £128.85 a week if you’re in the support group
You will get ESA every two weeks. If you’re in the support group and on income-related ESA, you’re also entitled to the enhanced disability premium. You may also qualify for the severe disability premium. These are extra amounts of money added to your ESA and you can find out more about them here.
What health conditions qualify for ESA?
According to DWP data, there are 23 groups of health conditions that could see you qualify for ESA. They are:
- 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
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