How to claim Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
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How do I apply for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)?
If you have a cancer diagnosis, you may be able to claim a benefit called Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). This is a benefit for people under State Pension age who have an illness or disability that affects how much they can work.
You can apply if you are:
- employed
- self-employed
- unemployed
- a student.
We are here to help if you have questions about benefits. Call us free on 0808 808 00 00 to talk to a Macmillan money adviser, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
Related pages
Starting your ESA application
If you live in England, Scotland or Wales, you can:
- apply online at GOV.UK
- call the Jobcentre Plus new claims helpline on 0800 055 6688 or use textphone 0800 328 1344
- use Relay UK on 18001 then 0800 055 6688 if you cannot hear or speak on the phone
- use the video relay service if you use British Sign Language.
If you live in Northern Ireland, you can:
- apply online at NI Direct
- call the ESA Centre on 0800 085 6318 or use textphone 0800 328 3419
- use the video relay service if you use British Sign Language.
Applying online
To apply online, you will need the following:
- Your National Insurance number.
- Your bank account or building society account number and sort code. If you do not have an account, you can use a friend or family member’s account.
- Your GP’s name, telephone number and address.
- A fit note or sick note if you have not worked for more than 7 days in a row because of your illness or disability – this is sometimes called a doctor’s note or statement of fitness for work.
- Details of your income, if you get a pension or are doing permitted work.
- The date your Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) ends, if you are claiming this. You can find this on an SSP1 form provided by your employer.
Capability for Work questionnaire (ESA50)
If you are applying for ESA and you cannot work due to illness or treatment, you may need to have a work capability assessment. This helps show how your illness or disability affects your ability to work.
As part of the assessment, you complete a Capability for Work questionnaire called an ESA50.
You will be sent the form in the post. You can also download it:
You need a printed copy because it must be signed by a healthcare professional.
The questionnaire asks about:
- health conditions, including cancer
- your treatment
- how your health affects your daily tasks and mental health.
Recording the problems you have every day in a diary can help to show:
- how your condition affects you
- that you have problems looking after yourself.
You can send your diary as supporting evidence along with your claim form. Other evidence could include reports or care plans from your GP, cancer doctor, specialist nurse or other healthcare professionals. Our benefits diary includes an example entry you may find helpful.
It is important you complete and return the questionnaire by the date given to you – this is usually within 4 weeks of receiving it. This is to make sure you get your full payment as quickly as possible. You can find the exact date on the letter included with the form.
You can access the form in different formats, such as Braille, large print, or audio. Contact the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or NI Direct to request this.
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If you are having, waiting for, or recovering from cancer drug treatment or radiotherapy
You may not need to answer all the questions, if cancer is your only health problem and you are having, waiting for, or recovering from one of the following treatments:
- chemotherapy
- immunotherapy
- hormonal therapy
- targeted therapy
- radiotherapy.
The form explains which sections you need to complete.
A healthcare professional, such as your clinical nurse specialist (CNS), must complete part of the form for you. This is to confirm your treatment and how it affects your ability to work.
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If you are having a different type of cancer treatment or also have other health conditions
You will need to complete the questionnaire in full, if:
- you are not having cancer drug treatment or radiotherapy but you are having another treatment, such as surgery
- you are in remission and still have side effects from your cancer or treatment
- you also have other health conditions.
After you apply
After you have applied, you will get a call or a letter to tell you what happens next. This might include a new claim appointment with a work coach. This can be in person or over the phone.
If you have an in-person appointment, you should take:
- a medical certificate called a fit note – this is sometimes called a sick note or doctor’s note or statement of fitness for work
- proof of your identity and address
- proof of any pensions or health insurance payments you get.
Work capability assessment
In England, Scotland and Wales, the work capability assessment is done by a provider on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions. In Northern Ireland, it is done by the Medical Support Services.
They will contact you to tell you whether you need an assessment. Assessments can be in person, by video call or on the phone. They will tell you how your assessment will take place.
You can find more information about assessments at GOV.UK.
Some people may not have any assessments. For example, this could be if you are:
- waiting for, having, or recovering from cancer drug treatment or radiotherapy – you will be placed in the Support group
- terminally ill and claiming under special rules – you will be placed in the Support group.
ESA decision letter
Work-related activity group
If the assessment suggests there is some work-related activity you could still do, you will be placed in the Work-related activity group.
You need to have regular work-focused interviews with an adviser. They can help with things like job goals and improving your skills.
After an interview, you may have to do work-related activity. This does not mean you have to apply for a job. It could mean writing a CV, going on a training course or doing a work placement.
You will get the lower rate of ESA payment. If you claimed ESA before 3 April 2017, you may get an extra amount.
You can only get new style ESA for 1 year. After 1 year, the benefit will stop unless you either:
- ask to be put in the support group and get accepted
- are on contribution-based ESA and qualify for the old style income-related ESA.
If you are worried that this time limit might affect you, speak to a welfare rights adviser as soon as possible. Or you can call our money advisers for free on 0808 808 00 00, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
Support group
You will be placed in the Support group if your illness or disability makes it very difficult for you to work or do work-related activities. This includes if you are waiting for, having or recovering from certain cancer treatments, such as cancer drug treatments or radiotherapy.
You will not have work-focused interviews with an adviser or need to do any work-related activities. But you can ask to talk to a personal adviser.
There is no time limit on how long you can get ESA. You will get the higher rate of ESA payment.
How do I challenge an ESA decision?
If you are unhappy with a decision about ESA, you may be able to ask for it to be reviewed again. Find out more about challenging a benefits decision.
It may be helpful to speak to a welfare rights adviser before challenging a benefits decision. Or you can call our money advisers on 0808 808 00 00, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
How to claim Employment and Support Allowance FAQs
You might have some more questions about claiming Employment Support Allowance. We have answered some of the most asked questions below.
If you have a question that is not answered below, you can call our Support Line for free on 0808 808 00 00.
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Can ESA be backdated?
ESA can be backdated to cover 3 months before you made your claim. You do not need to meet any special conditions for this. But if you were claiming Statutory Sick Pay, your claim will not be backdated.
You will have to make the claim for your ESA to be backdated.
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Can I get help applying for benefits?
You can contact your local Citizens Advice in England, Scotland and Wales, Advice NI in Northern Ireland, or a benefits advice centre. Or call our money advisers for advice on 0808 808 00 00, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
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How do I close an ESA claim?
If your circumstances change and you no longer need to claim ESA, you must report this.
- In England, Scotland and Wales, call Jobcentre Plus on 0800 169 0310 or 0800 328 1744 for Welsh language. Or use textphone 0800 169 0314.
- In Northern Ireland, call 0800 587 1377 or use textphone 0800 328 3419.
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Can I claim ESA if I'm not a British citizen?
You may be able to claim ESA if you have paid enough National Insurance within the last 2 to 3 years. You can check your National Insurance record at GOV.UK.
Citizens Advice has information on claiming benefits if you are not a British citizen. You can also call our support line. It has an interpretation service in over 200 languages. Call 0808 808 00 00 and tell us in English the language you want to use.
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How do I claim ESA on behalf of someone else?
You can fill out the application form for ESA on behalf of someone else if the applicant:
- is giving you the answers
- can be contacted about the claim
You can manage someone else's ESA claim on their behalf if you are their appointee or representative. How you apply is different in this case. If you are an appointee, you will need to apply for ESA by phone.
- In England, Scotland and Wales, call 0800 055 6688 or use textphone 0800 328 1344.
- If you are making a claim from Northern Ireland, call 0800 085 6318 or use textphone 0800 328 3419.
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How does ESA affect other benefits?
If you receive new style (contribution-based) ESA, this is taken into account as income when you are assessed for other benefits.
You should check your eligibility before making a claim for another benefit.
About our information
This information has been written, revised and edited by Macmillan Cancer Support’s Cancer Information Development team. It has been reviewed by expert medical and health professionals and people living with cancer.
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References
Below is a sample of the sources used in our benefits information. If you would like more information about the sources we use, please contact us at informationproductionteam@macmillan.org.uk
GOV.UK www.gov.uk [accessed May 2025].
NI Direct www.nidirect.gov.uk [accessed May 2025].
Social Security Scotland www.socialsecurity.gov.scot [accessed May 2025].
Macmillan Welfare Rights Team
Reviewer
Date reviewed
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This means it is easy to use, up-to-date and based on the latest evidence. Learn more about how we produce our information.
The language we use
We want everyone affected by cancer to feel our information is written for them.
We want our information to be as clear as possible. To do this, we try to:
- use plain English
- explain medical words
- use short sentences
- use illustrations to explain text
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We use gender-inclusive language and talk to our readers as ‘you’ so that everyone feels included. Where clinically necessary we use the terms ‘men’ and ‘women’ or ‘male’ and ‘female’. For example, we do so when talking about parts of the body or mentioning statistics or research about who is affected.
You can read more about how we produce our information here.