What is Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)?
ESA is a benefit for people of working-age who are not working and have “limited capability for work” because of a disability or illness. ESA used to have two elements: Contributory ESA and income-related ESA.
Income-related ESA has been replaced by Universal Credit (UC) for all new claims, and the vast majority of people who were receiving income-related EAS have started receiving UC instead
New-style ESA (formally called Contributory ESA) may be claimed and awarded for those who have been working in the years prior to their claim and satisfy the National Insurance contribution conditions. New-style ESA is not means-teasted but income from a personal or occupational pension scheme can impact the amount received.
Further information on ESA including the rules and exceptions can be found on RNIB's ESA webpage.
Updated 07.09.26
