What is Employment Support Allowance (ESA)?

Employment and Support Allowance replaces Incapacity Benefit and Income Support that is paid because of an illness or disability for new claimants from 27 October 2008. If you are already receiving Incapacity Benefit, you will continue to get it as long as you are eligible.

Employment and Support Allowance involves a new medical assessment called the Work Capability Assessment.

This assesses what you can do, rather than what you cannot, and identifies the health-related support you might need.

Most people claiming Employment and Support Allowance will be expected to take steps to prepare for work, including attending Work-Focused Interviews with their personal adviser.

Under Employment and Support Allowance, if you have an illness or disability that severely affects your ability to work, you will get increased financial support and will not be expected to prepare for a return to work. You can volunteer to do so at any point if you want to.

How it works

Employment and Support Allowance consists of two phases:

• the assessment phase rate is paid for the first 13 weeks of your claim while a decision is made on your capability for work through the Work Capability Assessment
• the main phase starts from week 14 of your claim, if the Work Capability Assessment shows that your illness or disability does limit your ability to work

There are two groups within the main phase:

Work Related Activity Group

If you are placed in the Work Related Activity Group, you will be expected to take part in Work-Focused Interviews with your personal adviser. You will get support to help you prepare for suitable work.

In return, you will receive a work related activity component in addition to your basic rate.

Support Group

If you are placed in the Support Group because your illness or disability has a severe effect on your ability to work, you will not be expected to take part in any work. You can do so on a voluntary basis if you want to.

You will receive a support component in addition to your basic rate.

Helping you into work

If you are in the Work Related Activity Group, you will regularly see your personal adviser to discuss your work prospects. Help and advice will be given with:

• your job goals
• your skills, strengths and abilities
• steps you can take to help find suitable work
• your ideas, problems and any other work related issues you want to talk about

If you refuse to go to the Work-Focused Interviews, or to take part fully in the Work-Focused Interviews, it may affect your entitlement to Employment and Support Allowance.

If you are in the Support Group you do not have to go to interviews, but you can ask to talk to a personal adviser if you want to.