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Income-related Employment and Support Allowance and new Style Employment and Support Allowance

Last updated: 17/04/2025

No new claims can be made for income-related Employment and Support Allowance (income-related ESA). If you are getting income-related ESA you will continue to do so until your circumstances change or you are invited to claim Universal Credit instead.

Income-related ESA is for people whose ability to work is limited due to a disability or ill-health. It pays for day to day living costs. Income-related ESA may be affected by multiple incomes and savings over £6000.

New Style, or Contributary, Employment and Support Allowance (new style ESA) is a separate benefit from income-related ESA. Claims can still be made for new style ESA, and this benefit is based on your National Insurance Contributions over the last two or three years as opposed to your income and savings.

You might be able to get Universal Credit at the same time as, or instead of, new Style ESA.

What is the difference between income-related Employment and Support Allowance and new style Employment and Support Allowance?

Despite the similar names, income-related ESA and new style ESA are two separate benefits.

Income-related ESA is a legacy benefit which can no longer be claimed, and it has been replaced by Universal Credit. If you are getting income-related ESA at the moment, you will continue to do so until your circumstances change or you are invited to claim Universal Credit instead.

New style ESA is a benefit based on your National Insurance contributions as opposed to your income and savings. This benefit is for those who have been an employee and have paid specific National Insurance contributions over the last two to three years. It can be claimed if you are currently working in limited capacity or out of work due to illness or disability. You can get this benefit at the same time as Universal Credit.

To get any kind of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) you will have been assessed and meet the following conditions:

  • you have a ‘limited capability for work’, which is due to a physical or mental health condition; and
  • you are at least 16 years old and have not reached pension age

You will have been assigned to one of two ‘groups’ depending on how your disability or illness affects you. Find out more about eligibility for new style ESA.

 

Income-related ESA

Income-related ESA

Income-related ESA is a legacy benefit, meaning no new claims can be made for it. It has been replaced by Universal Credit.

Income-related ESA was paid to people with limited work capability due to ill health or disability. It was affected by any income, money or savings over £6,000.

Free school meals

All children in primary 1 to 5, at schools (and special schools) run by their local council or funded by the Scottish Government, can get free school lunches during term-time. 

Your child could get free school meals after primary 5 if you get:

  • Universal Credit (where your monthly income is not higher than £850)
  • Scottish Child Payment
  • Income Support
  • income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance
  • income-based Employment and Support Allowance
  • support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

If your child is 16-18 years old and receives any of these benefits for themself, they can also claim free school meals.

For more information and how to apply see: Free School Meals.

 

New style ESA

New style ESA

This benefit is based on your National Insurance contributions as opposed to your income and savings. If you have made the necessary National Insurance contributions over the last two or three years, you may get new style ESA.

You can get new style ESA if you are made redundant or if you leave your job due to illness or disability.

You get new style Jobseeker’s Allowance instead if you leave work for reasons other than illness or disability.

You can apply for new style ESA online if you are over 18. If you are aged 16 or 17 you may still be able to apply. Speak to your local Jobcentre Plus for more details.

You cannot get new style ESA if you’re currently receiving Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) from your employer. You can apply for new style ESA up to three months before your SSP ends.

Apply for new style ESA here.

The amount of new style ESA you get will depend on:

  • Your age
  • If you have had the Work Capability Assessment yet
  • If you have had the Work Capability Assessment, whether you are in the work-related activity group or the support group
  • When your claim began

 

New style ESA allowance rates:

This is the weekly allowance for those who have not yet done their Work Capability Assessment:

  • Single parent aged 16 or 17: £72.90
  • Single parent 18 and over: £92.05

This is the weekly allowance for those who have done their Work Capability Assessment:

  • Work-related activity group and claim started on or after 3 April 2017: £92.05. Your amount depends on when your claim began.
  • Support group, whenever your claim started: up to £138.20. This amount is made up of your personal allowance plus a £48.50 additional support group component.

For more information and how to apply see: Benefits based on your National Insurance contributions.

 

What is a Work Capability Assessment?

The Work Capability Assessment is used to decide whether or not you have limited capability for work. You will need to take this assessment to claim the extra components of new style ESA.

The assessment is made up of two parts:

  • Capability for Work Questionnaire (ESA50), which will be sent to you to complete
  • Medical Assessment conducted by a healthcare professional either in person, by video call or over the phone.

If you score less than 15 points in this assessment, you will be denied income-related and new style ESA, or your payments will stop if you already receive one of these benefits.

If you score more than 15 points, your benefit will continue, or you will start to receive payments.

 

Work-related activity group and Support group

If you are deemed to have limited capability for work, then you will be placed into one of two groups in order to receive income-related or new style ESA:

  • Work-related activity group
  • Support group

Work-related activity group

If you are put into the ‘Work-related activity group’, you will have to carry out activities to prepare for returning to work to get ESA. Activities can include things like going to interviews at the Jobcentre. You will have to comply with conditions to keep getting your ESA. If you do not comply with your conditions, you could be sanctioned.

If you are in this group, you can only claim ESA for one year.

Support group

People in the ‘Support group’ do not have to carry out any activities to receive ESA. You cannot be sanctioned if you are in this group. There is also no limit on how long you can receive this benefit. For example, if you have a terminal illness or if you are pregnant with a serious risk to damaging your health or the health of your unborn baby, you will be put into this group.

 

More information and how to apply for new style ESA

You can apply on-line or call the Universal Credit Helpline if you need help. You also need to give Jobcentre Plus a medical certificate from your doctor.

Telephone: 0800 328 5644 (choose option 2)

Textphone: 0800 328 1344 (choose option 2)

See more information and how to claim online.

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