Chapter 4: Employment and support allowance

This chapter covers:

1. What is employment and support allowance (here)

2. Who is eligible (here)

3. Limited capability for work (here)

4. Amount of benefit (here)

5. Claiming employment and support allowance (here)

6. Challenging a decision (here)

7. Other benefits and tax credits (here)

Basic facts

•Employment and support allowance (ESA) is for people who are assessed as having limited capability for work because of their health or disability.
•There is an income-related and a contributory ESA.
•Part-time students who have limited capability for work and full-time students who get disability living allowance or personal independence payment are eligible for income-related ESA.
•Part-time and full-time students can claim contributory ESA if they have paid sufficient national insurance contributions.