To satisfy the basic rules for employment and support allowance (ESA), you must be aged at least 16, but under pension age (see here). However, if you are already getting income-related ESA and are, or become, a member of a ‘mixed-age couple’ (ie, you have reached pension age but your partner has not) and you are prevented from claiming universal credit (see here), your income-related ESA continues even though you have reached pension age.1Art 8 WRA(No.31)O; HB Circular A9/2019