'New Style' Contributory Employment and Support Allowance: Who can claim?
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) has changed to a new contribution-based benefit called Contributory ESA.
To be eligible to make a claim you must satisfy all of the conditions below:
- You must be aged at least 16 and under state pension age (the age at which you can claim the State Retirement Pension)
- You must be in Great Britain.
- You must have a ‘fit’ note from your doctor (You can 'self-certify' for the first seven days, but after that, you will need to be covered by a 'fit' (sick) note from your GP until you have undergone the Work Capability Assessment.)
- You Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) from your employer must have ended - ESA cannot be paid for the same period as SSP. A claim for ESA can be made in advance of SSP expiring (SSP lasts for 28 weeks), but the award will not start until SSP has ended. You will need to provide an SSP1 form from their employer to confirm the date SSP ended.
National Insurance
To qualify for Contributory ESA, you must satisfy the National Insurance rules – please ask the benefits advice team to check if new style ESA or Universal Credit is open to you.
We're here to help
It can be confusing, so if you need help with your claim, get in touch and one of our benefits advisors will call you.
More advice
Benefits advice service
Our dedicated staff provide advice and guidance on making and maintaining benefits claims. Meet the team and learn more about how they can help you.
Personal Independence Payment
Information on claiming Personal Independence Payment and how our benefits advice team can help.
Universal Credit
Universal Credit is a payment to help with your living costs. You may be able to get it if you’re on a low income, out of work or you cannot work.