Who is eligible for New Style ESA?

To get new-style ESA you must have been an employee or self-employed and have paid or been credited with National Insurance contributions, either Class 1 (employees) or Class 2 (self-employed) in the two full tax years before the year you are claiming in. Your income and savings, and that of any partner, will not affect how much New Style ESA you are paid, although a private pension worth more than £85 per week may affect how much you can get.

You also need to show that you have limited capability for work and this would normally require you to submit a fit note (sometimes called ‘sick note’ or ‘doctor’s note’) followed by what is known as a Work Capability Assessment (see below). However, the government has announced that claimants affected by coronavirus (suffering, self-isolating or shielding) will be treated automatically as having limited capability for work and that neither a fit note nor a Work Capability Assessment is necessary.