What is New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
New Style ESA, short for New Style
Employment
Employment means having a job.
and Support Allowance, is the name of a benefit that some people with a disability or health condition can get.
The money is to help to pay for your living costs. Living costs include things like
rent
Rent is the money that you pay to live in your home when you have a
tenancy agreement
A Tenancy agreement is where the person renting a house, and the person who owns the house, agree on things like how much rent to pay, who will mend things like the cooker if they go wrong, and whether you are allowed pets.
. Your home belongs to a
landlord
A landlord is the owner of a property which they rent out to tenants. They can be a
council
A council is also called a
local authority
A local authority is also called a council. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live like schools,
social care
Social care means the services that give care and support to people who need it.
(support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live. These include: schools, social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
, a housing association, or an individual person.
, but you have a right to live there as long as you follow the rules that are in your tenancy agreement.
, food and bills.
You can also get help to get ready for work.
Some people get a benefit called income-related
Employment and Support Allowance
Employment and Support Allowance is sometimes called ESA. It is a benefit for people who find it harder to get a job because of a disability or a long term health condition.
.
You cannot apply for income-related ESA.
If you are getting income-related ESA, you do not need to do anything unless:
- your circumstances change or
- you get a letter called a '
Migration Notice
A migration notice is a letter saying that one of your benefits will stop and you need to claim a different benefit.
' telling you that you must claim Universal Credit.
Visit the government’s guidance for people who have had a Migration Notice for further information.
This information is about New Style ESA.
Can I get New Style ESA?
To get New Style ESA you must:
- live in the UK
- are under the state
pension
A pension is money you get when you are older to pay for the things you need. You can pay money into your pension when you are working so there is more money for when you are older.
age - have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work.
You must also have worked as an employee or have been self-employed and paid enough
National Insurance
National Insurance is a type of
tax
Tax is the money that pays for things like schools, hospitals and the police. There are different types of taxes like
income tax
Income tax is the money that is taken out of the money you earn every month. It helps to pay for things we all need like hospitals and schools.
,
VAT
VAT is also called Value Added Tax. VAT is the extra money you pay when you buy things. The money goes to
the government
The Government are the people who run the country. The Government decide how much tax people should pay and how things like the National Health Service (NHS) should work.
to pay for things like schools and hospitals.
and
council tax
Council Tax is the money that people pay to the council. It helps to pay for things like social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
.
. It is money that is taken out of the money you earn each month. You pay National Insurance so that you can get a pension when you are older.
contributions (or National Insurance credits) in the last 2 to 3 years. If you do not know if you have paid enough National Insurance contributions or National Insurance credits, check your National Insurance record on the government website.
If you are working you can claim New Style ESA if you work less than 16 hours a week and you do not earn more than £167 a week.
If you get Universal Credit you might also be able to get New Style ESA.
If you get both benefits, your Universal Credit payment will be reduced by the amount you get for New Style ESA.
You will also get different National Insurance credits which count towards your State Pension and help you qualify for other benefits.
You cannot get New Style ESA if you get Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) or Statutory Sick Pay (SSP).
If you get Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), you can only apply for New Style ESA if your SSP is going to end in the next 3 months.
What checks are needed to get New Style ESA?
The Department for Work and Pensions
The Department for Work and Pensions is sometimes called the DWP. It is part of the government and manages payments and benefits like Universal Credit,
Personal Independence Payment
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is the name of a benefit that some people with a disability or health condition get. The money is to pay for extra help you might need to look after yourself and to get around. Some people who used to get
Disability Living Allowance
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is the name of a benefit that some people with a disability get. The money is to pay for extra help you might need to look after yourself and to get around. Disability Living Allowance is being replaced by a benefit called Personal
Independence
Independence means doing things on your own. Making your own choices.
Payment (PIP).
(DLA) now get PIP instead.
, Employment and Support Allowance, and Income Support.
(DWP) will need to check:
- how your disability or health condition affects how much you can work
- if you will be able to work in the future.
If you apply for ‘credits only’ for New Style ESA, the DWP will check these things, but you will not get any money.
It can be a good idea to apply for ‘credits only’ for New Style ESA when you are 16 if you think that your disability or health condition affects how much you will be able to work.
How much is New Style Employment Support Allowance?
While you are waiting for your claim to be assessed you will usually get an '
assessment
An assessment is a way of finding out what help a person needs. When you have an assessment, you might have to go to a meeting or fill in a form.
rate' payment for 13 weeks.
From April 2024 - March 2025, the assessment rate payments are:
- up to £71.70 a week if you are under 25
- up to £90.50 a week if you are 25 or over.
After you have been assessed, if you are eligible for New Style ESA, you will be placed in either the work-related activity group, or the support group.
From April 2024 - March 2025 the payments are:
- up to £126.45 a week if you are in the work-related activity group
- up to £138.20 a week if you are in the support group.
You will be paid New Style ESA every 2 weeks.
The amount of New Style ESA money you get depends on things like; how much money you get from a private pension and the other benefits you get. Visit the government website for more information about what might affect how much you will get for New Style ESA.
How to apply for New Style ESA
To find out how to apply for New Style Employment and Support Allowance, we have created a straightforward step-by-step digital guide to take you through the application process.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between ESA and New Style ESA?
Some people get a benefit called income-related Employment and Support Allowance, also known as ESA. You cannot apply for income-related ESA. You can only apply for New Style ESA.
If you get income-related ESA, you do not need to do anything unless:
- your circumstances change, or
- you need to make a new claim for benefits (for example you need to start to claim help with housing costs), or
- you get a letter called a ‘Migration Notice’ telling you that you must claim Universal Credit.
You have 3 months to apply for Universal Credit after receiving a migration notice before benefits will be removed.
If your circumstances change you might not be able to get New Style ESA and may need to apply for Universal Credit instead. Visit entitledto.co.uk for more information.
Can I claim New Style ESA?
To get New Style ESA you must:
- live in the UK
- be under the state pension age
- have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work.
You must also have worked as an employee or have been self-employed and have paid enough National Insurance contributions or National Insurance credits in the last 2 to 3 years.
If you are working, you can claim New Style ESA if you work less than 16 hours a week and you do not earn more than £183.50 a week.
The full eligibility criteria for New Style ESA is on the government’s website.
I get Jobseekers Allowance (JSA). Can I claim New Style ESA?
You cannot get New Style ESA if you get Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA).
I get Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). Can I claim New Style ESA?
You cannot get New Style ESA if you get Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), unless your SSP is due to end in the next 3 months.
What are the groups within New Style ESA?
If you receive New Style ESA, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP ) will place you in the work-related activity group or the support group.
If you are in the work-related activity group, you will have to go to interviews with a work coach and get ready to go back to work in the future.
If you are in the support group, you will not have to go to interviews and do not have to get ready to work in the future.
If I claim New Style ESA, will I be made to find a job?
It depends which group you are placed in. If you are in the work-related activity group, you will have to go to interviews with a work coach and get ready to go back to work in the future.
If you are in the support group, you will not have to go to interviews and do not have to get ready to work in the future.
The information on this page is for
guidance
Guidance means being given clear instructions to be able to do something well.
only. Mencap hold no responsibility for DWP processes, timescales, decisions, and service.
Need more information?
If you'd like more information or guidance please contact our
Learning Disability
A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things.
Helpline.