People with specific medical conditions are being urged to check their eligibility for a support payment that could be worth hundreds per month.
The Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is available to individuals under the state pension age who have a disability or health condition that affects their ability to work.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) increased the ESA amount from April 2024 when benefits were raised by 6.7%, in line with the government’s commitment to assist vulnerable households. There are certain criteria you must meet to qualify for the benefit.
You can apply for ‘new-style’ ESA if you are under state pension age, have a disability or health condition that affects your ability to work, and have either worked as an employee or been self-employed and paid sufficient National Insurance contributions in recent years.
However, you cannot claim new-style ESA if you are receiving jobseeker’s allowance or statutory sick pay, but you could be eligible if you are also receiving universal credit. It should be noted that your universal credit amount will be reduced by the amount you receive for new-style ESA. You could be eligible for ESA if you have certain medical conditions that affect your ability to work.
What medical conditions qualify for ESA?
You could be eligible for ESA if you have certain medical conditions that affect your ability to work. Here is the latest list:
- 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 can I get?
Like other benefits, ESA saw a 6.7% increase in April. The new weekly rates are as follows, but it’s important to note that ESA is paid fortnightly:
Personal allowances
- Single under 25: £71.70 (from £67.20)
- Single aged 25 or over: £90.50 (from £84.80)
- Lone parent under 18: £71.70 (from £67.20)
- Lone parent over 18: £90.50 (from £84.80)
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
- 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
- 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)
Components
- Work-related activity: £35.95 (from £33.70)
- Support group: £47.70 (from £44.70)
How do I apply for ESA?
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 seven 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 your assessment takes longer than 13 weeks, you’ll continue receiving the assessment rate until a decision is made or until your ESA is due to end. Post-assessment, if you’re entitled to ESA, you’ll be placed into one of two groups.
If there’s potential for you to return to work in the future, you’ll be put into the work-related activity group. Otherwise, you’ll be placed into the support group. ESA is paid 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 additional amounts added to your ESA, and you can find out more about them here.
For breaking news in your area direct to your inbox every day, go here to sign up to our free newsletter