Folks with particular medical circumstances are being inspired to verify in the event that they’re eligible for Employment and Help Allowance (ESA), value as much as £368 monthly from the Division for Work and Pensions
Folks with particular medical circumstances are being urged to confirm their eligibility for a help cost that would quantity to lots of monthly. The Employment and Help Allowance (ESA) is designed for these beneath the state pension age who’ve a incapacity or well being situation that impacts their capability to work.
The Division for Work and Pensions (DWP) elevated the ESA sum by 1.7% from April, 2025, reflecting the federal government’s pledge to help weak households. Nonetheless, there are specific standards it’s essential to meet to be eligible for this profit.
The “new type” ESA was launched in December, 2016. All remaining “previous type” contribution-based ESA awards had been transformed to the “new type” ESA on December 1, 2025. For money-saving ideas, signal as much as our Cash e-newsletter right here
New type ESA is a fortnightly cost that may be claimed by itself or concurrently Common Credit score (UC). In the event you get each advantages, your Common Credit score cost is diminished by the quantity you get for the ESA.
You possibly can apply for the brand new type ESA should you’re beneath the state pension age, have a incapacity or well being situation that impacts your capacity to work, and have both been employed or self-employed, making enough Nationwide Insurance coverage contributions lately.
You can not declare new type ESA should you’re at the moment receiving jobseeker’s allowance or statutory sick pay. Nonetheless, it’s possible you’ll be eligible should you’re additionally on common credit score.
It is necessary to notice, although, that your common credit score sum will probably be diminished by the quantity you obtain for the new-style ESA.
What medical circumstances qualify for ESA?
You could be eligible for ESA you probably have sure medical circumstances that have an effect on your capacity to work. Right here is the newest listing of DWP circumstances that will qualify you for ESA:
- Sure infectious and parasitic illnesses
- Neoplasms
- Illnesses of the blood and blood forming organs and sure illnesses involving the immune mechanism
- Endocrine, dietary, and metabolic illnesses
- Psychological and behavioural problems
- Illnesses of the nervous system
- Illnesses of the attention and adnexa
- Illnesses of the ear and mastoid course of
- Illnesses of the circulatory system
- Illnesses of the respiratory system
- Illnesses of the digestive system
- Illnesses of the pores and skin and subcutaneous system
- Illness of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue
- Illnesses of the genito-urinary system
- Being pregnant, childbirth, and the puerperium
- Sure circumstances originating within the perinatal interval
- Congenital malformations, deformations, and chromosomal abnormalities
- Signs, indicators, and irregular scientific and laboratory findings not elsewhere categorised
- Damage, poisoning and sure different penalties of exterior causes
- Exterior causes of morbidity and mortality
- Components influencing well being standing and speak to with well being companies
- Codes for particular functions
- Unknown or claimants with out analysis on the system
How a lot ESA can I get?
You’ll usually get the ‘evaluation price’ for 13 weeks whereas your declare is being assessed.
This will probably be:
- as much as £72.90 per week should you’re aged beneath 25
- as much as £92.05 per week should you’re aged 25 or over
After you’re assessed you’ll be positioned into certainly one of two teams should you’re entitled to ESA. In the event you’re capable of get again into work sooner or later, you’ll be put into the work-related exercise group. In any other case, you’ll be put into the help group.
In the event you’re nearing the tip of life, you’ll be put into the help group.
You’ll get:
- as much as £92.05 per week should you’re within the work-related exercise group
- as much as £140.55 per week should you’re within the help group
In the event you’re within the help group and on income-related ESA, you’re additionally entitled to the improved incapacity premium.
Learn how to declare
You could possibly get Common Credit score on the similar time or as a substitute of the ESA. Verify should you’re eligible for Common Credit score.
You possibly can apply on-line through the Gov.UK web site.
You’ll want:
- your Nationwide Insurance coverage quantity
- your financial institution or constructing society account quantity and type code (you need to use a buddy or member of the family’s account should you should not have one)
- your physician’s identify, tackle and phone quantity
- a match observe (typically referred to as a ‘sick observe’ or a ‘assertion of health for work’) should you’ve not been capable of work for greater than 7 days in a row due to a incapacity or well being situation
- particulars of your revenue, should you’re working
- the date your Statutory Sick Pay ends, should you’re claiming it
There’s a distinct option to apply should you’re nearing the tip of life, which will be discovered on the Gov.UK web site.