Severe Disablement Allowance and ESA

Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA) was a state benefit for those below the state pension age who were assessed as being unable to work because of illness or disability. It was abolished altogether in 2001 but if you were already getting SDA, you carried on getting it.

However, people in receipt of SDA are now required to be re-assessed to see if they are capable of work or eligible for ESA. If the reassessment shows you are capable of working, your SDA will stop. The Jobcentre will then discuss your next steps, including claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance. If the reassessment shows you can’t work, you will be transferred automatically on to ESA.

Your claim will not be reassessed if you will reach State Pension age before 6 April 2014.

More information on claiming ESA can be found at: www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/259725/dwp015.pdf.