What is Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)?
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is money for people who have limited capability for work because of their sickness or disability but do not get Statutory Sick Pay.
There are two types:
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- contributory/New Style Employment and Support Allowance
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance is being replaced by Universal Credit. Please go to the Can I get Employment and Support Allowance? page of this guide for information on who can still claim.
Applies to: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Age rules: You must be 16 or over and under State Pension age.
Type of benefit:
Income-related ESA is means tested
Contributory ESA is non means tested
Taxable:
Income-related ESA is not taxable
Contributory ESA is taxable
Administered by: Jobcentre Plus, Department for Work and Pensions
Reviewed: October 2021