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Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is a new benefit for people with limited capability for work because of ill health or disability.
ESA replaces Incapacity Benefit and Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA) but only for most new claims made on or after 27 October 2008. It also replaces most new claims for Income Support made on the basis of incapacity for work.
If you claimed Incapacity Benefit, SDA or Income Support because of incapacity for work before 27 October 2008, you will continue to get these benefits for the time being. However, you will be expected to transfer to ESA at later date. This date has not yet been decided.
Most people claiming ESA will have to undergo a number of assessments to decide whether they are capable of working. There will also be one or more work-focused interviews.
You will be able to get ESA for an initial period of up to 13 weeks. During this time, you will be assessed to decide what should happen to your claim at the end of 13 weeks. If you don't satisfy the assessment, you won't be able to remain on ESA and will need to claim Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) instead.
For more information about Employment and Support Allowance, see Benefits for people who are sick or disabled.
For more information about Income Support, see  Help for people on a low income – Income Support.
For more information about Jobseeker's Allowance, see Benefits for people looking for work.
If you are unable to work because of ill health or a disability, you might need to get advice from an experienced adviser, for example, at a Citizens Advice Bureau. To search for details of your nearest CAB, including those that can give advice by email, click on nearest CAB.
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