Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is a benefit for people who:
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have limited capability for work because of sickness or disability
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are not working (although voluntary work and some limited paid work can be permitted - see our factsheet for more details)
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are aged 16 or over, but under the age at which you can claim your state pension
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are not entitled to certain other benefits (Statutory Sick Pay, Incapacity Benefit, Income Support, Severe Disablement Allowance or Jobseeker's Allowance).
ESA replaced Incapacity Benefit and Income Support (paid on the basis of incapacity for work) for new claimants on 27 October 2008. Jobcentre Plus will transfer existing Incapacity Benefit and Income Support claimants over to ESA by 2014.
This page summarises how Jobcentre Plus decides if you can receive ESA, how much you will get and what you will need to do to keep receiving it. More detail is available from our factsheet that you can download from the "Further information" section below.
A quick summary of ESA - a story of twos
ESA is a single benefit that you can break down into sets of twos. ESA has:
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two elements: contributory ESA for people who have paid sufficient National Insurance contributions and income-related ESA for those who are on a low income. You may qualify for either or both elements.
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two phases: first, an assessment phase during which Jobcentre Plus assess your capability for work. Secondly, a main phase when you receive the full rate of ESA - depending on which group you are put into.
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a medical test, called the Work Capability Assessment, that is broken into two parts: one to see if you are entitled to ESA and the other to determine which group you will be put into.
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two groups: you will be placed into one of two groups - a support group or a work-related activity group - based on the results of the second test. People in the support group receive more ESA and do not have to attend interviews with a Jobcentre Plus adviser. People in the work-related activity group receive less ESA and do have to attend regular interviews with an adviser.
How do I claim ESA?
Jobcentre Plus administer ESA on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Call them on 0800 055 6688 to make a claim. They will take all the information they need over the phone and then send you a claim form to sign. You may also be asked to attend an interview at a local Jobcentre Plus office.
You will need to get a medical certificate (called a fit note) from your GP at the start of your claim. After 13 weeks Jobcentre Plus will do their own medical test and you will no longer need fit notes.
You can ask for you claim for ESA to be backdated for up to three months.
After you have been on ESA for around eight weeks, Jobcentre Plus will begin the process of assessing you under the Work Capability Assessment. They will send you a form called an ESA50 to fill in. This asks about your disabilities and about the sort of activities that you find difficult. You have four weeks to complete and return the ESA50.
When DWP Medical Services receive your ESA50 they will decide whether you need to attend a face-to-face medical examination. The examination will be carried out at by a Health Care Professional (HCP) who may be a doctor, a nurse or some other suitably qualified person, at a Medical Services examination centre.
It would be a good idea to take a copy of your sight impairment certification document (CVI or BD8) with you to this medical examination.
The medical test for ESA: the Work Capability Assessment
The medical test for ESA is called the Work Capability Assessment. It is in two parts.
The first part of the test: The Limited Capability for Work Assessment
This is the test that determines whether or not you are entitled to ESA. If you do not pass this test you will not receive any further ESA (unless you make an appeal). You will have to claim another benefit such as Jobseeker's Allowance instead.
If you are visually impaired the most relevant activities within the Work Capability Assessment are about your ability to get around out of doors independently and communicate with other people.
For each activity, there are a series of statements or descriptors describing the difficulties that you have. You score points for each descriptor that applies to you and points scored in each activity are added together. You need to score 15 points to pass the test and receive ESA. If you have other disabilities as well, you may also score points for other activities.
The "understanding communication" activity
The descriptors for this are:
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15 points for "Cannot understand a simple message due to sensory impairment, such as the location of a fire escape".
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15 points for "Has significant difficulty understanding a simple message from a stranger due to sensory impairment".
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6 points for "Has some difficulty understanding a simple message from a stranger due to sensory impairment".
This activity assesses both sight loss and hearing loss, so that if you have difficulty in understanding a message written in 16-point text you should score points even if you do not have any problems with hearing. It is a test of your ability to read a "simple message", not sustained reading over a long period. If you can successfully read 16-point text with a hand-held magnifier you may score fewer points, but you should explain why it may not be "reasonable" to use a magnifier in certain circumstances. You should also explain any difficulties you have due to poor contrast, distortion or flashes of light.
If you have problems reading 16-point text and you are not awarded any points under this descriptor at a medical examination please contact us.
The "navigation and maintaining safety" activity
The descriptors for this are:
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15 points for "Unable to navigate around familiar surroundings, without being accompanied by another person, due to sensory impairment".
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15 points for "Cannot safely complete a potentially hazardous task such as crossing the road, without being accompanied by another person, due to sensory impairment".
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9 points for "Unable to navigate around unfamiliar surroundings, without being accompanied by another person, due to sensory impairment".
If you are entitled to Disability Living Allowance mobility component you would be likely to meet at least the "unable to navigate in unfamiliar places without being accompanied" descriptor.
On the ESA50 form and at a medical examination, you should explain to the assessor the sort of practical problems you would have travelling independently and crossing the road in an unfamiliar area, such as finding a crossing and checking that it has audio or other indication of when to cross.
The second part of the test: The Limited Capability for Work-related Activity Assessment
If you pass the first part of the test, Jobcentre Plus will carry out a Limited Capability for Work-related Activity Assessment. This decides which of the two groups they will place you in: the support group or the work-related activity group.
If you have severe disabilities, you will not be required to carry out work-related activities and the DWP will place you in the support group.
None of the descriptors for the support group relate to sight loss, so if you have sight loss and no other disabilities Jobcentre Plus will normally place you in the work-related group.
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If you have combined sight loss and severe hearing loss you may be placed in the support group.
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If you have another disability you may want to check if you meet any of the descriptors for the support group. Please contact us for further advice.
Your obligations if you are placed in the work-related activity group
If you are placed in the work-related group of ESA, you will have to attend a number of interviews with a Jobcentre Plus adviser. These interviews are intended to explore your options for returning to work and the barriers that you might face in employment. You will be required to discuss and devise an action plan of activities with your personal adviser.
If the DWP consider that you have failed to take part in interviews with your personal adviser you can be sanctioned and your benefit reduced.
The two elements of ESA: contributory and income-related
Contributory ESA
To get contributory ESA you must have paid sufficient National Insurance Contributions or your limited capability for work began before you were 25. You claim contributory ESA as an individual and there are no extra amounts if you have a partner or dependent children. You can claim Contributory ESA even if you live with a partner who is working or who has other income or savings. Contributory ESA is taxable.
You must normally have paid sufficient National Insurance contributions over the last three years to qualify for contributory ESA.
Amount of contributory ESA
Contributory ESA is paid at a flat rate of £67.50 a week (for people 25 or over) during the assessment phase. During the main phase you will receive an extra £26.75 a week if you are in the work related group or an extra £32.35 if you are in the support group.
If you are aged under 25, contributory ESA is paid at a basic rate of £53.45 a week during the assessment phase. Once you enter the main phase you will receive the full rate of ESA.
Income-related ESA
You can claim this if you are not entitled to contributory ESA or as a top-up for it. To claim it, you must:
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be habitually resident and have a right to reside in the UK
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have no more than £16,000 in capital (savings for example) - if you live with a partner your capital will be assessed together. The first £6,000 of capital is ignored. Capital between £6,000 and £16,000 will affect the amount of benefit you are paid
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normally not work 16 or more hours a week. If you are living with a partner, your partner must not work 24 or more hours a week
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have a low income - lower than the amount that the Government thinks someone in your situation needs to live on. This amount is made up of a basic allowance and extra premiums that you may qualify for. If you have a partner, the DWP also takes into account their income.
Some types of income are not counted (such as Disability Living Allowance), but most other sources of income (other benefits, pension payments) will be taken into account in full and will reduce the amount of income-related ESA you are entitled to. If you have earnings from permitted work, Jobcentre Plus will ignore the first £20 a week. In some circumstances they will disregard up to £95 a week.
Amount of income-related ESA
The basic rate is £67.50 a week for a single person and £105.95 for a couple. After the assessment phase you will also receive an extra £26.75 or £32.35 depending on which group you are in. You will also receive any relevant premiums (see below).
If you are aged under 25, income-related ESA is paid at a basic rate of £53.45 a week during the assessment phase. Once you enter the main phase you will receive the full rate of ESA.
Income-related ESA premiums and their weekly amounts
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Enhanced disability premium: £14.05 for a single person or £20.25 for a couple
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Severe disability premium: £55.30 for a single person or where one person in a couple qualifies, £110.60 when both people in a couple qualify
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Carer premium: £31 for each person that qualifies.
Housing costs
If you have a mortgage you may get an extra amount included in your applicable amount towards the interest on your mortgage or loan. However there is usually a waiting time of 13 weeks before the interest can start to be paid. Interest is not usually paid on the amount of any loans over £200,000.
Some other charges that are payable as a condition of your occupancy, such as service charges and ground rent, can also be included in your housing costs.
We recommend that you contact your mortgage lender as soon as possible to tell them you are on ESA and to agree suitable repayments.
If you are a tenant and pay rent you may be entitled to Housing Benefit (see below) - even if your income is too high for income-related ESA.
Revisions and appeals
You can request a revision or an appeal if you disagree with a decision about your ESA. For advice about applying for a revision or an appeal please contact us on 0303 123 9999.
Reclaiming ESA - linking rules
If you come off ESA to try out a job or training you may be able to reclaim ESA under special "linking rules". These allow you to receive ESA without any waiting period and at the same rate and on the same terms as before, and you do not have to repeat the 13-week assessment phase.
12-week linking rule
If you are off sick or leave a job within 12 weeks of a previous ESA award you will go back onto your ESA at the same rate and terms as before.
Two-year linking rule
If you received ESA for over 13 weeks then came off ESA to begin work or training there is a two-year linking rule. If that work or training stops for any reason within two years you can reclaim ESA at the same rate and on the same terms as before.
Am I better off claiming Jobseeker's Allowance instead?
If you are registered or receive any rate of Disability Living Allowance and would be eligible for income-related ESA, you may want to consider claiming income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) instead.
ESA is paid at a higher rate than basic JSA after the 13-week assessment period, but if you are registered blind or getting Disability Living Allowance, your income-based JSA will include a disability premium, and so be paid at a slightly higher rate than ESA.
Our factsheet gives you a useful comparison of ESA and JSA to help you decide which is best for you.
Other benefits
Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit
If you and your partner have no more than £16,000 savings or capital, and your income is fairly low, you may be able to get help with your rent or Council Tax or both. You should apply to your local council.
If you receive income-related ESA you will normally be "passported" through to maximum Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit, but you still normally need to contact your local authority and let them know that you want to claim these benefits.
Disability Living Allowance
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is for people under 65 who could do with some help to look after themselves or need guidance when walking outdoors in unfamiliar places.
DLA is not means tested so it does not matter if you have other income or savings. It can be paid on top of, and may lead to entitlement or increases to, the benefits described in this factsheet (Housing Benefit for example). If you have a serious sight problem it is worth claiming DLA as you could receive up to £68.85 a week.
Further information
For information on other benefits and concessions for people with serious sight problems call RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or email helpline@rnib.org.uk. You can also download our factsheet on ESA:
Please note that we can only give advice about benefits for people with sight loss and their carers or dependants.
If you use a language other than English please let us know which language. We will try to arrange a telephone interpreting service.
This information gives general guidance only and is not an authoritative statement of the law.