Employment and Support Allowance

What is Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)?

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is a benefit designed to support individuals with a disability or health condition that impacts their ability to work. ESA provides financial assistance to cover living costs and offers tailored support to help individuals prepare for or return to work if they are able.

Eligibility for ESA

To qualify for ESA, individuals must:

1. Be under State Pension age.
2. Have a disability or health condition that limits their ability to work.

ESA and Universal Credit

ESA is gradually being replaced by Universal Credit (UC) as part of the government’s welfare reform programme. While new claims for ESA are generally no longer accepted, some individuals may still receive ESA if they meet specific criteria or are transitioning from older benefits.

Types of ESA

There are two types of ESA:

1. New Style ESA: Available to those with sufficient National Insurance contributions. It can be claimed on its own or alongside Universal Credit.
2. Contribution-based ESA (legacy benefit): Limited to those already claiming before the introduction of UC.

Changes and Legislation

The government’s Welfare Reform Act 2012 initiated the transition from ESA to Universal Credit, streamlining benefits into a single payment. The Health and Disability White Paper 2023 introduced plans to simplify assessments and improve support for claimants under the new system.

Useful Links

• Employment and Support Allowance (Gov.uk) Official government page providing detailed guidance on ESA eligibility, applications, and transitioning to Universal Credit.
• Universal Credit Overview (Gov.uk) Offers comprehensive information on Universal Credit, including how it integrates with ESA for eligible claimants.
• Health and Disability White Paper 2023 Outlines recent changes to the benefits system, including improvements to the assessment process and claimant support.

For more detailed insights into benefit claimants at a local area level, explore our Geodemographics data product which provides extensive information linked to postcodes.