Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is a benefit for people whose disability or health condition affects how much they can work. In 2026/27, new-style ESA pays up to £95.55 a week if you are 25 or over during the 13-week assessment phase, £75.65 a week if you are under 25, and up to £145.90 a week if you are placed in the Support Group. You claim it online through GOV.UK or by calling the Jobcentre Plus new claims helpline on 0800 055 6688, and you will usually need a fit note from your doctor.

ESA is run by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Most new claimants get new-style ESA, which is based on National Insurance contributions. Income-related ESA is closed to new claims: if you have not paid enough National Insurance, you claim Universal Credit instead. ESA is paid every two weeks, and the amount you get depends on the outcome of a Work Capability Assessment.

What is ESA?

Employment and Support Allowance is an income-replacement benefit. It is for people who cannot work, or who can only work a limited amount, because of an illness, disability or health condition. You can apply whether you are employed, self-employed or unemployed, and whether you are in or out of work when you claim. You must be under State Pension age to claim new-style ESA.

There are two kinds of ESA, and the distinction matters. New-style ESA is contributory: it depends on the National Insurance contributions you have paid or been credited with, usually in the last two to three tax years. Your savings do not affect it, and you can claim it on its own or at the same time as Universal Credit. Income-related ESA is means-tested and top-up based. It is closed to new claims, but people who already receive it keep getting payments while they remain eligible, until their claim ends or they are moved to Universal Credit.

ESA is not the same as Personal Independence Payment (PIP). PIP is for the extra costs of living with a disability and is not linked to whether you can work. ESA replaces lost earnings when a health condition stops you working. Many people claim both at the same time, and a PIP award can also help as evidence in an ESA claim, but the two benefits have separate assessments and separate claim processes.

How much is ESA in 2026/27?

When you first claim, you enter an assessment phase that normally lasts for the first 13 weeks while the DWP decides what group you belong in. During that phase you are paid a basic rate: up to £75.65 a week if you are under 25, and up to £95.55 a week if you are 25 or over. Delays are common and many assessments take longer than 13 weeks. You keep receiving the assessment rate until a decision is made, and any money owed is backdated.

After the assessment you are placed in one of two groups, or found fit for work. If you are placed in the Work-Related Activity Group (WRAG), which means you cannot work now but may be able to in future with support, you stay on up to £95.55 a week. For new-style ESA claims, WRAG payments stop after 12 months. If you are placed in the Support Group, which means your condition severely limits your ability to work and you are not expected to work, you get up to £145.90 a week, which is the basic rate plus a support component of £50.35 a week. There is no time limit on Support Group payments.

People who are still on income-related ESA get slightly different figures. Their personal allowances are £77.52 a week if under 25 and £97.75 a week at 25 or over, with a work-related activity component of £37.95 and a support component of £50.35. ESA is paid every two weeks, directly into your bank account.

Who can claim ESA?

You can apply for new-style ESA if you are under State Pension age and you have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work. You also need to have worked as an employee or been self-employed and paid enough National Insurance contributions, usually in the last two to three years. The DWP checks your contribution record, so apply even if you are unsure: the DWP will confirm whether you meet the contribution conditions.

You cannot get new-style ESA if you are getting Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) from an employer, but you can apply up to three months before your SSP ends, and your ESA will start as soon as the SSP ends. You also cannot claim ESA at the same time as Jobseeker's Allowance. You need a fit note, sometimes called a sick note or a statement of fitness for work, if you have not been able to work for more than seven days in a row because of a disability or health condition. Your GP, hospital doctor, nurse, occupational therapist, pharmacist or physiotherapist can give you one.

If you do not have enough National Insurance contributions, you will usually need to claim Universal Credit instead, where a health condition can add a limited-capability-for-work element after a Work Capability Assessment. You can claim Universal Credit at the same time as new-style ESA, but your Universal Credit payment is reduced by the amount of ESA you receive.

The Work Capability Assessment

The Work Capability Assessment (WCA) is the test the DWP uses to decide whether your illness or disability affects how much you can work, and which group you belong in. After you claim, you are sent a capability for work questionnaire, form WCA50, usually within four weeks of your first payment. You should return it by the date on your letter, usually within four weeks, with supporting evidence such as letters from your GP or consultant, hospital reports and a diary of how your condition affects you day to day.

You may then be asked to attend an assessment, which can be in person, by video call or on the phone. The assessor scores you on 17 activities, 10 physical and 7 mental or cognitive, including moving around, standing and sitting, communicating, and coping with change. The DWP then writes to you with the outcome: Support Group, Work-Related Activity Group, or fit for work. Describe how you are affected on your worst days as well as on average days, and be specific about what you cannot do, rather than only naming your diagnosis.

Decisions can be challenged. If you disagree, you can ask for a mandatory reconsideration within one month of the decision, and if that does not change the outcome you can appeal to an independent tribunal. In April to June 2026, 46 per cent of ESA appeals cleared at a tribunal hearing were decided in favour of the claimant, which is why advisers say it is worth challenging a decision you believe is wrong rather than accepting it.

How to claim ESA, step by step

Start by checking which route fits you. If you have paid enough National Insurance in the last two tax years, claim new-style ESA. If you have not, claim Universal Credit, and ask about the limited-capability-for-work element. Then apply online through GOV.UK, or call the Jobcentre Plus new claims helpline on 0800 055 6688, Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm, if you cannot apply online or you are applying as an appointee for someone else. Relay UK users should call 18001 then 0800 055 6688.

Have ready your National Insurance number, your bank or building society account number and sort code, your doctor's name, address and telephone number, a fit note if you have been unable to work for more than seven days, details of your income if you are working, and the date your Statutory Sick Pay ends if you are claiming it. The DWP will contact you within 10 working days of applying. You will normally have an appointment with a work coach, by phone, and agree a Claimant Commitment setting out what you need to do to keep getting payments. You do not need an appointment or a Claimant Commitment if you are nearing the end of life, in which case a medical professional should give you form SR1.

ESA can be backdated for up to three months before the date of claim if you would have been entitled to it earlier, so claim as soon as you can rather than waiting for the assessment to be arranged. Keep copies of the fit note and the WCA50 form, and note every phone call with the DWP, including the date, the name of the person you spoke to and what was agreed.

Working while claiming ESA and ESA with Universal Credit

You can usually work while claiming ESA if the work is limited and the DWP agrees it is permitted work. There are conditions on the hours and earnings, and you should fill in the permitted work form and send it to Jobcentre Plus before you start, rather than assuming a small job will be fine. If you are already claiming ESA and want to start work, tell the DWP first and get the position in writing.

New-style ESA and Universal Credit can be claimed together. ESA is deducted from your Universal Credit pound for pound, so your total income does not rise by the full ESA amount, but claiming ESA can protect your National Insurance record and may entitle you to extra amounts elsewhere. If your health condition means you have limited capability for work-related activity, Universal Credit can add a limited-capability element after the same Work Capability Assessment. From April 2026 there are two rates of that element for new claimants, so check the current figures on GOV.UK.

Local Jobcentre Plus offices are also changing. From 1 October 2026, Jobcentre Plus and the National Careers Service are being brought together in England as the Jobs and Careers Service, so the name on your local office may change gradually even though the ESA claim process stays the same.

Frequently asked questions

How much is ESA in 2026/27? During the assessment phase it is up to £75.65 a week if you are under 25 and £95.55 a week if you are 25 or over. The Support Group gets up to £145.90 a week, with no time limit.

How long does ESA take? The assessment phase normally lasts 13 weeks, but delays are common. You keep getting the assessment rate until a decision is made, and arrears are backdated.

Can I claim ESA and Universal Credit together? Yes. New-style ESA can be claimed at the same time as Universal Credit, but your Universal Credit is reduced by the amount of ESA you get.

What is the difference between ESA and PIP? ESA replaces earnings when a health condition stops you working. PIP helps with the extra costs of disability and is not linked to whether you can work. You can claim both.

What if I am found fit for work? You can ask for a mandatory reconsideration within one month, and then appeal to a tribunal. Get advice from Citizens Advice or a welfare rights service before the deadline passes.

Rates and rules change each April and the Work Capability Assessment is under review. Check the current figures on GOV.UK before you act, and get independent advice if your situation is complicated.