Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Deaf young people who find it harder to work may be eligible for New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is a benefit for people who find it harder to work because of ill health or disability. It is paid by the Government's Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
For some people, their disability or health condition may mean they can’t work or they can’t work that many hours. ESA helps with living costs and can also give you support to get back to work if you’re able to.
Understanding ESA
There are different types of ESA – contribution-based and income-related. You cannot make a new income-related ESA claim. You must claim Universal Credit instead.
Contribution-based ESA is now called 'New Style ESA'. You can only claim New Style ESA if you have made enough National Insurance payments. This means that most young people are not eligible for New Style ESA because they will not have worked or been claiming benefits long enough. But if you have had a job or claimed other benefits in the last few years, you may be able to apply.
You can claim New Style ESA and Universal Credit at the same time, but you might get less money overall. Use a benefits calculator or seek advice to find out before you apply.
Who can claim New Style ESA
To claim New Style ESA a person must:
be aged 16 to pension age
not be receiving jobseeker’s allowance or statutory sick pay (SSP). You can apply for New Style ESA up to 3 months before your SSP ends
not be in full-time work (16 hours or more per week) but there are exceptions, such as voluntary or permitted work
have limited capability for work because of a health condition or disability
have paid enough National Insurance contributions, usually in the last 2 to 3 years
live in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales.
If you are a student (full time or part time), you can claim New Style ESA if you satisfy all of these rules. The rules about full-time, non-advanced education are complicated. Get advice if you’re unsure.
Limited capability for work is when it is unreasonable to require someone to work because of their ill health or disability.
How to claim New Style ESA
To claim New Style ESA you will need:
your National Insurance number
your bank or building society account number and sort code
your doctor’s name, address and telephone number
a fit note from your GP
details of your income, if you’re working
the date your Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) ends, if you’re claiming it
England, Scotland and Wales
Start your New Style ESA claim online (GOV.UK).
If you have questions or need help filling out the form, call the JobCentre Plus new claims helpline on 0800 055 6688. If you can’t hear on the phone, you can use RelayUK’s text relay service or use the video relay service to speak to someone in British Sign Language (BSL).
Northern Ireland
Claim New Style ESA in Northern Ireland (NI Direct).
You can apply or get advice on your online application on the telephone – call the ESA Centre on 0800 085 6318. If you can’t hear on the phone, you can use RelayUK’s text relay service or a video relay service to speak to someone in BSL or Irish Sign Language (ISL).
Appointees
DWP expect young people to claim New Style ESA themselves. However, in some cases a deaf young person may need someone to claim ESA on their behalf. This is called an appointee. Find out more about appointees (GOV.UK).
Appointees must call the 'Jobcentre Plus new claims helpline' to start a New Style ESA claim for someone else.
Telephone: 0800 055 6688
Textphone: 0800 328 1344
Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 055 6688
British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service if you’re on a computer or use the service on mobile or tablet
Welsh language telephone: 0800 328 1744
Decision
DWP will contact you 10 days after submitting your application.
If you're eligible
DWP will contact you to book an appointment for a Work Capability Assessment (WCA). This is usually over the phone (but you will be able to use relay services if you need to). A work coach from your local Job Centre plus will ask you to:
explain how your illness or disability affects your ability to work
provide medical evidence
Claimant Commitment
You will also need to make a ‘Claimant Commitment’ with a work coach. This is an agreement between you and DWP.
The 'Claimant Commitment' includes applying for jobs, attending interviews or other work-related activities. If you don’t fulfil your ‘Claimant Commitment’ without a valid reason, it may affect your ESA. Your ESA will either be reduced or you will be sanctioned and your ESA stopped.
If you're not eligible
DWP will inform you if they do not believe that you are eligible for New Style ESA. You can challenge this decision by submitting a mandatory reconsideration (GOV.UK).
More information
Full references for this webpage are available by emailing
informationteam@ndcs.org.uk