How to apply for New Style Employment and Support Allowance
How to apply for New Style Employment and Support Allowance
What is New Style Employment and Support Allowance (New Style ESA)?
New Style ESA is the name of a benefit that some people with a disability or health condition can get.
The money is to help to pay for your living costs.
Living costs include things like
rent
Rent is the money that you pay to live in your home when you have a
tenancy agreement
A Tenancy agreement is where the person renting a house, and the person who owns the house, agree on things like how much rent to pay, who will mend things like the cooker if they go wrong, and whether you are allowed pets.
. Your home belongs to a
landlord
A landlord is the owner of a property which they rent out to tenants. They can be a
council
A council is also called a
local authority
A local authority is also called a council. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live like schools,
social care
Social care means the services that give care and support to people who need it.
(support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live. These include: schools, social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
, a housing association, or an individual person.
, but you have a right to live there as long as you follow the rules that are in your tenancy agreement.
, food and bills.
Some people get a benefit called income-related
Employment
Employment means having a job.
and Support Allowance.
You cannot apply for income-related Employment and Support Allowance.
This
Easy Read
Easy Read is a way of making written information easier to understand. Pictures are usually added next to the writing.
tells you how to apply for New Style ESA.
Step 1: Check that you can get New Style ESA
To see if you could get New Style ESA, read our What is New Style Employment and Support Allowance? Easy Read page.
Step 2: Make sure you have everything you will need
Before you apply for New Style ESA, you will need to know:
- your name, address and telephone number
- your date of birth
- your
National Insurance
National Insurance is a type of
tax
Tax is the money that pays for things like schools, hospitals and the police. There are different types of taxes like
income tax
Income tax is the money that is taken out of the money you earn every month. It helps to pay for things we all need like hospitals and schools.
,
VAT
VAT is also called Value Added Tax. VAT is the extra money you pay when you buy things. The money goes to
the government
The Government are the people who run the country. They decide how much tax people should pay for things and how things like the National Health Service should work.
to pay for things like schools and hospitals.
and
council tax
Council Tax is the money that people pay to the council. It helps to pay for things like social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
.
. It is money that is taken out of the money you earn each month. You pay National Insurance so that you can get a
pension
A pension is money you get when you are older to pay for the things you need. You can pay money into your pension when you are working so there is more money for when you are older.
when you are older.
number if you have one
You can find your National Insurance number on any letters you have had about your tax, pensions or benefits.
- your bank or building society account number and sort code
- your doctor’s name, address and phone number.
You will also need a fit note. Sometimes people call a fit note a sick note.
A fit note is written by a health professional like a doctor, to say if you are fit to work. It may also say what sort of tasks you can and can’t do.
If you have a job, you will need to know how much money you earn.
If you have a job, but are not at work because of your disability or problems with your health, and you are getting Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) you will need to know the date your SSP will end.
Step 3: Apply for New Style ESA
You can apply for New Style ESA online or by phone.
If you want to apply by phone, contact the new Jobcentre Plus helpline.
Phone: 0800 055 6688
Textphone: 0800 328 1344
Relay UK: 18001 then 0800 055 6688
Relay UK is for people who cannot hear or speak on the phone.
You can contact the new Jobcentre Plus helpline Monday to Friday 8am-5pm.
What happens after you have applied for New Style ESA?
After you apply for New Style ESA,
The Department for Work and Pensions
The Department for Work and Pensions is sometimes called the DWP. It is part of the government and manages payments and benefits like Universal Credit,
Personal Independence Payment
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is the name of a benefit that some people with a disability or health condition get. The money is to pay for extra help you might need to look after yourself and to get around. Some people who used to get
Disability Living Allowance
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is the name of a benefit that some people with a disability get. The money is to pay for extra help you might need to look after yourself and to get around. Disability Living Allowance is being replaced by a benefit called Personal
Independence
Independence means doing things on your own. Making your own choices.
Payment (PIP).
(DLA) now get PIP instead.
,
Employment and Support Allowance
Employment and Support Allowance is sometimes called ESA. It is a benefit for people who find it harder to get a job because of a disability or a long term health condition.
, and Income Support.
(DWP) will contact you in the next 2 weeks.
They will let you know if they have accepted your claim.
If the DWP have accepted your claim you will be told if you need to have a Work Capability Assessment.
If the DWP have accepted your claim and you do not need to have a Work Capability
Assessment
An assessment is a way of finding out what help a person needs. When you have an assessment, you might have to go to a meeting or fill in a form.
, they will decide whether you will get New Style ESA.
If the DWP decide that you will get New Style ESA they will contact you to make an appointment for you to talk to your work coach from your local Jobcentre.
If you find it difficult to go to appointments or to talk on the phone, let the DWP know when they contact you about the appointment.
Read our Easy Read page ‘Your New Style Employment and Support Allowance plan’ to find out what will happen at the appointment.
The DWP call the New Style Employment and Support Allowance plan a ‘Claimant Commitment’.
This Easy Read was first published 13/12/2023
Last updated: 13/12/2023