Employment and Support Allowance

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is for people under State Pension age who have an illness or disability that affects how much they can work. There are different types of ESA, so it is a good idea to speak to a Macmillan welfare rights adviser to see if you can make a claim. Find out what you need to have ready when you call our welfare rights advisers.

ESA can provide:

• money to help with living costs if you cannot work
• support to get back to work if you can.

You may be able to claim new-style ESA if you have paid enough National Insurance within the last 2 to 3 years. Most claims are now for new-style ESA.

If your income and savings are low, you could get Universal Credit (UC) at the same time or instead of new-style ESA. But get advice before claiming UC if you are already receiving Tax Credit or Housing Benefit.

You may need to have a work capability assessment when you apply. This is to find out how your illness or disability affects your ability to work. You will also need to be assessed if you are applying for Universal Credit (UC) and cannot work due to illness or treatment.

Your work capability assessment usually happens in the first 13 weeks of getting ESA. You will complete a questionnaire called an ESA50. There is a different version of the ESA50 questionnaire in Northern Ireland.

The questionnaire asks about

• your health condition
• your treatment
• how it affects you.

You can send in copies of medical or social care letters that you already have with your questionnaire. It is important you complete and return the questionnaire by the date given to you.

If you are waiting for, having or recovering from cancer treatment, you do not usually need to complete the whole form. A healthcare professional, such as your clinical nurse specialist (CNS), must complete the last page of your ESA50. This is to confirm your treatment and how it affects your ability to work.

We have more information about filling in the ESA50 form.

The Centre for Health and Disability Assessments does the assessments in England, Scotland and Wales. In Northern Ireland, it is the Medical Support Services. They will contact you to tell you if you need an assessment and where it will be.

You can find more information about assessments at chdauk.co.uk or nidirect.gov.uk

Some people may not have any assessments. For example, this could be if you are:

• waiting for, having, or recovering from, chemotherapy or radiotherapy
• terminally ill and may be reasonably expected to live for less than 12 months.

We have more information about how your ESA claim will be assessed.

If you are terminally ill, you can claim ESA under special rules. This means your claim should be fast-tracked. This means you will get additional money sooner. We have more information about special rules.

How you apply for new-style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) depends on where you live.

If you live in England, Scotland or Wales, you must first fill in an NSESAF1 claim form. You can get the form in 2 ways:

• Download and print the form from GOV.UK
• Call the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644 or textphone 0800 328 1344 to get the form by post or email. They can also send the form in an accessible format.

When you have completed the form, call the Universal Credit helpline to make a ‘new claim appointment’ at your local Jobcentre Plus. When you go to this appointment, you should take:

• your completed NSESAF1 claim form
• a medical certificate called a fit note – this is sometimes called a sick note or doctor’s note
• proof of your identity and address
• proof of any pensions or health insurance payments you get.

If you live in Northern Ireland, contact your Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) support centre to make a claim. You can call 0800 085 6318 or use textphone 0800 328 3419. Or you can fill in and print out an ESA1 claim form at nidirect.gov.uk.