What is New Style Employment and Support Allowance (New Style ESA)?
What is New Style Employment and Support Allowance (New Style ESA)?
New Style Employment and Support Allowance (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.
You can also get help to get ready for work.
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.
is about New Style ESA.
Who can get New Style ESA?
You can get New Style ESA if you:
- live in the UK
- are under the state pension age
- have a disability or health problems that affect how much you can work.
You must also have worked as an employee or have been self-employed and...
have paid enough
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. The Government decide how much tax people should pay and how things like the National Health Service (NHS) 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.
contributions or National Insurance credits in the last 2 to 3 years.
If you do not know if you have paid enough National Insurance contributions or National Insurance credits, you can visit the government’s website to check your National Insurance record.
If you get Universal Credit, you might also be able to get New Style ESA.
If you get Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), you can only apply for New Style ESA if your SSP is going to end in the next 3 months.
If you are working, you can claim New Style ESA if you work less than 16 hours a week and...
you do not earn more than £167 a week.
How much is New Style ESA?
The amount of New Style ESA money you get depends on:
- if you are waiting for
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) to decide if you will get New Style ESA - your age
- if the DWP think that you will be able to work in the future
- how much money you get from a private pension
- the other benefits you get.
This Easy Read was first published: 13/12/2023
Last updated: 13/12/2023