Employment and Support Allowance

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) replaced Incapacity Benefit and Income Support paid because of an illness or disability from January 2011. You will continue to get Incapacity Benefit if you were receiving it prior to this date. You may be able to claim ESA if any of the following apply to you:

You may get ESA if you have an illness or disability that affects your ability to work, and:

• you’re off work or out of work;

• you’re self-employed;

• you work for an employer but can’t get Statutory Sick Pay, or

• you’ve been getting Statutory Sick Pay but it has now stopped.

You must also either:

• have had an illness or disability which affects your ability to work for at least four days in a row (including weekends and public holidays);

• be unable to work for two or more days out of seven consecutive days; or

• be getting special medical treatment.

There are two types of ESA. People receive contribution-based ESA if they have limited capability for work and have paid enough National Insurance contributions whereas income-related ESA is paid to people depending on their income and savings.

Any savings you have must be less than £16,000 and, if you have a partner or civil partner, they must be working less than 24 hours a week on average. You can only get extra money for your husband, wife or civil partner if you get income-related ESA.