You can apply for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) which is paid every 2 weeks, if you have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work.
ESA gives you:
1. Money to help with living costs if you’re unable to work
2. Support to get back into work if you’re able to
3. You can apply if you’re employed, self-employed or unemployed.
Eligibility
You 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 if you are in or out of work however there are conditions around claiming whilst working which you can find more information on here
You also need to have both:
1. Worked as an employee or have been self-employed
2. Paid enough National Insurance contributions, usually in the last 2 to 3 years – National Insurance credits also count.
You cannot claim ESA if you are claim JSA or are in receipt of statutory sick pay, however you can apply 3 months before your SSP is due to end, and you will start receiving ESA as soon as your SSP ends.
You may also be able to claim Universal credit alongside your claim for New Style ESA
Check your eligibility for Universal Credit here
What You Will Get:
What you get depends on what stage you are in your application as well as things like your age and whether you are able to return to work.
If you receive New Style ESA you will earn National Insurance Credits which can help towards your state pension/ some benefits in the future.
If you receive more than £85 a week from a private pension, half of your income over £85 will be subtracted from your ESA. For example for every £100 a week from your private pension £7.50 will be deducted from your ESA payments.
While your claim is being assessed you will receive an ‘assessment rate’, this will be:
up to £75.65 a week if you’re aged under 25
up to £95.55 a week if you’re aged 25 or over
It should not take more than 13 weeks to make a decision but should it take longer for any reason you will continue to be paid the assessment rate until a decision is made, Your ESA will be backdated if you are owed any money after 13 weeks
Once you have been assessed and a decision has been made you will be put in one of two groups, if you are able to return to work in the future you will be placed in the work related-activity group or you will be put in the support group, if you are nearing end of life you will also be place in the support group.
You’ll get:
Up to £95.55 a week if you’re in the work-related activity group
Up to £145.90 a week if you’re in the support group
If you are in the support group and also on income related ESA you are also entitled to enhanced disability premium, click here to find out how to apply for disability premium