Credits only claims for New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

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Credits only claims for New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

A man sitting in a chair at a desk. He is showing some papers to another man standing beside him.

New Style Employment and Support Allowance (New Style ESA) is the name of a benefit that some people with a disability or health condition can get.

A man sitting in a chair at a desk. He is showing some papers to another man standing beside him.

You can make a credits only claim for New Style  Employment  and Support Allowance (ESA) if you are:

A woman wearing a backpack standing in front of a college.
  • in full-time education
A group of people who are aged 16 and over
  • a young person aged 16 or over
A group of people.
  • and you have a disability or long-term health condition.
The Employment and Support Allowance image with some money and a red cross through it.

What is a credits only claim?

A credits only claim means you will not get any ESA money.

A National Insurance card with a plus sign beside it.

But you will get National Insurance credits.

 

A National Insurance card with a plus sign beside it and an arrow pointing to a group of older people with the words State Pension under them.

National Insurance credits will help you to get some benefits and your state pension in the future.

A man writing. Beside him is a clipboard with the the word assessment on it and ticks and crosses in boxes beside numbers.

It is important to apply for a credits only claim for New Style ESA, before you leave full time education because:

A map of the UK

Who can apply for credits only New Style ESA?

You can apply for credits only New Style ESA if you:

  • live in the UK
A group of people.
A red cross in front of a woman sitting at a laptop with clocks behind her showing 9.00 and 5.00.
  • can not work or can not work many hours because of your disability or health condition
4 people sitting on a sofa.
  • live with your parents because you need them to help you
A woman wearing a backpack standing in front of a college.

  • are at school or college full-time on a non-advanced course. 

    The government has a webpage about which courses count as non-advanced.

A man sitting in a chair at a desk. He is showing some papers to another man standing beside him.

How do I apply for credits only New Style ESA?

Read our easy read about how to apply for New Style ESA.

A woman on the phone saying the words credit only in a speech bubble.

If you apply by phone, say you want to apply for credits only New Style ESA.

A man reading a letter. Beside him is a circle. In the circle are the words employment and support allowance and a cross through some money.

What happens after I have applied for credits only New Style ESA?

You will get a letter saying you will not get paid any New Style ESA money.

A man writing. Beside him is a clipboard with the the word assessment on it and ticks and crosses in boxes beside numbers.

If the Department of Work and Pensions ( DWP ) have accepted your claim you will be told if you need to have a Work Capability Assessment. 

A man with a clipboard and pen with a sheet which has the word assessment and ticks and crosses on it. There is also an image of a red cross over the picture of a woman typing in front of clocks showing 9.00 and 5.00 and a green tick in front of a National Insurance card with a plus sign beside it.

If the Work Capability Assessment shows you would find it difficult to work or to get ready for work you will get National Insurance credits.

A front cover of a Universal Credit leaflet

If you claim for Universal Credit in the future:

A woman with a clipboard standing in front of a Work Capability Assessment leaflet with a red cross over her
  • you will not have to have another Work Capability Assessment
A photograph of a man having an interview. The photograph has a red cross over it.
  • you will not have to say you will get ready for work or say you will go to job interviews to get your Universal Credit money.
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This Easy Read was made with funding from the National Lottery  Community  Fund.

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First published 23/02/2026

Last updated 23/02/2026

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