Claiming your benefits

What is it?

If you’re ill or disabled, Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) can offer you:

• financial support if you’re unable to work
• personalised help so that you can work if you’re able to.

You can apply for ESA if you’re employed, self-employed or unemployed.

You might be transferred to ESA if you’ve been claiming other benefits like Income Support or Incapacity Benefit.

Find out more

Find out more at Gov.uk

Find out more at Citizens Advice

Find out more at Age UK

Make a claim

The quickest way to apply for Employment and Support Allowance is by phone on 0800 055 6688 (textphone: 0800 023 4888).

You can also fill in and print out the form and send or take it to your local Jobcentre Plus office.

You will be asked to have a Work Capability Assessment while your ESA claim is being assessed. This is to see to what extent your illness or disability affects your ability to work.