How much can you get?

During the assessment phase you are paid a “basic allowance”. If you are aged under 25 you will receive a reduced rate of this basic allowance. This reduction does not apply after the assessment period.

If you were placed in the Work-Related Activity Group before April 2017 you receive an additional work-related activity component of £29.05 a week.

If you are placed in the Support Group, you receive an additional support component of £38.55 a week. If you are terminally ill, this component will be paid to you during the assessment phase.

Last year the Department for Work and Pensions revealed that around 180,000 people who were moved from Incapacity Benefit and Severe Disability Allowance on to ESA missed out on benefit payments they were entitled to. They are owed an average rebate of around £5,000. Most of the underpayments are the result of calculation mistakes, affecting claims made between 2011 and 2014.

The underpayments affect people who were not considered for income-related ESA when they were moved to contributory ESA. They may also have missed out on other payments, including the enhanced disability premium. The DWP is contacting those affected and all backdated payments are due to be made by the end of 2019.