Due to You
  • UK-wide
DWP

New-style Employment and Support Allowance

Contribution-based DWP benefit for people under State Pension age who cannot work or whose work is limited by illness or disability and who have enough recent National Insurance contributions.

Headline rate£95.55assessment phase — 25 or over (weekly)
Written by Due to You Editorial
Reviewed by D2Y Editorial Team
Last updated (2026-04-20)
Sourced from: GOV.UK

Overview

New-style Employment and Support Allowance is a contributory benefit from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for working-age people across the UK whose ability to work is limited by a health condition or disability. Unlike means-tested income support, it is not affected by a partner's income or household savings; eligibility rests instead on whether the claimant has paid or been credited with enough Class 1 or Class 2 National Insurance contributions in the two full tax years before the claim. Payments begin in a 13-week assessment phase at a weekly assessment rate (with a lower amount for claimants under 25), after which a Work Capability Assessment places the claimant in one of two groups: the Work-Related Activity Group, where some preparation for work is expected, and the Support Group, where no such expectation applies. Each group has its own weekly rate, with the Support Group paid more. New-style ESA can be claimed alongside Universal Credit — the ESA payment is treated as income for UC purposes — and claiming it can protect National Insurance credits relevant to State Pension entitlement. Payments are normally made every two weeks. Individual eligibility and rate are determined by the DWP. This page references figures and criteria from the primary GOV.UK source; the authoritative source for any individual award remains the DWP.

Applies in UK-wide. Administered by DWP. This page is general information; contact DWP for your individual circumstances.

Rates

RateAmountPeriodSource
Assessment phase — 25 or over£95.55WEEKLY[GOV.UK]
Assessment phase — under 25£75.65WEEKLY[GOV.UK]
Main phase — Support Group£145.90WEEKLY[GOV.UK]
Main phase — Work-Related Activity Group£95.55WEEKLY[GOV.UK]

Eligibility criteria include

  • WORK STATUS
    Claimant must have a health condition or disability that limits the ability to work. [GOV.UK]
  • AGE
    Claimant must be under State Pension age. [GOV.UK]
  • OTHER
    Claimant must have paid or been credited with sufficient Class 1 or Class 2 National Insurance contributions in the 2 full tax years before the benefit year of claim. [GOV.UK]
  • WORK STATUS
    A Work Capability Assessment determines placement in the Work-Related Activity Group or the Support Group after the assessment phase. [GOV.UK]

Sources