Changes to the benefit system
The UK Government are thinking about making benefit changes next year (2026) to:
-
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.
(PIP) -
Employment
Employment means having a job.
and Support Allowance (ESA) - Universal Credit (UC)
- Access to Work (AtW)
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
We need your benefit stories so we can share the concerns of people with a
learning disability
A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things.
with
the Government
The Government are the people who run the country. They decide how much
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 to pay for things like schools and hospitals.
and
council tax
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.
Tax is the money that people pay to the
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.
. It helps to pay for things like social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
.
people should pay for things and how things like the National Health
Service
A service gives people what they need, like healthcare services that help people when they are ill, and support services that give people support.
should work.
.
What is New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
New Style ESA, short for New Style
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.
, 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, food and bills.
You can also get help to get ready for work.
Some people get a benefit called income-related Employment and Support Allowance.
You cannot apply for income-related ESA.
If you are getting income-related ESA, you do not need to do anything unless:
- your circumstances change or
- you get a letter called a '
Migration Notice
A migration notice is a letter saying that one of your benefits will stop and you need to claim a different benefit.
' telling you that you must claim Universal Credit.
Visit the government’s guidance for people who have had a Migration Notice for further information.
This information is about New Style ESA.
Can I get New Style ESA?
To get New Style ESA you must:
- live in the UK
- be under the state
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.
age - have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work.
You must also have worked as an employee or have been self-employed and paid enough
National Insurance
National Insurance is a type of tax. 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 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, check your National Insurance record on the government website.
If you are working you can claim New Style ESA if you work and earn less than the amounts set by the government. You can check these amounts on the government website.
If you get Universal Credit you might also be able to get New Style ESA.
If you get both benefits, your Universal Credit payment will be reduced by the amount you get for New Style ESA.
You will also get different National Insurance credits which count towards your State Pension and help you qualify for other benefits.
You cannot get New Style ESA if you get Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) or Statutory Sick Pay (SSP).
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.
What checks are needed to get New Style ESA?
The Department for Work and Pensions
The Department for Work and Pensions is sometimes called the
DWP
DWP stands for the government Department of Work and Pensions.
. It is part of the government and manages payments and benefits like Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Employment and Support Allowance, and Income Support.
(DWP) will need to check:
- how your disability or health condition affects how much you can work
- if you will be able to work in the future.
If you apply for ‘credits only’ for New Style ESA, the DWP will check these things, but you will not get any money.
It can be a good idea to apply for ‘credits only’ for New Style ESA when you are 16 if you think that your disability or health condition affects how much you will be able to work.
Easy Reads about New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
How to apply for New Style ESA
To find out how to apply for New Style Employment and Support Allowance, we have created a straightforward step-by-step digital guide to take you through the application process.
Some people get a benefit called income-related Employment and Support Allowance, also known as ESA. You cannot apply for income-related ESA. You can only apply for New Style ESA.
If you get income-related ESA, you do not need to do anything unless:
- your circumstances change, or
- you need to make a new claim for benefits (for example you need to start to claim help with housing costs), or
- you get a letter called a ‘Migration Notice’ telling you that you must claim Universal Credit.
You have 3 months to apply for Universal Credit after receiving a migration notice before benefits will be removed.
If your circumstances change you might not be able to get New Style ESA and may need to apply for Universal Credit instead. Visit entitledto.co.uk for more information.
To get New Style ESA you must:
- live in the UK
- be under the state pension age
- have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work.
You must also have worked as an employee or have been self-employed and have paid enough National Insurance contributions or National Insurance credits in the last 2 to 3 years.
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 £183.50 a week.
The full eligibility criteria for New Style ESA is on the government’s website.
You cannot get New Style ESA if you get Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA).
You cannot get New Style ESA if you get Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), unless your SSP is due to end in the next 3 months.
If you receive New Style ESA, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will place you in the work-related activity group or the support group.
If you are in the work-related activity group, you will have to go to interviews with a work coach and get ready to go back to work in the future.
If you are in the support group, you will not have to go to interviews and do not have to get ready to work in the future.
It depends which group you are placed in. If you are in the work-related activity group, you will have to go to interviews with a work coach and get ready to go back to work in the future.
If you are in the support group, you will not have to go to interviews and do not have to get ready to work in the future.
The information on this page is for
guidance
Guidance means being given clear instructions to be able to do something well.
only. Mencap hold no
responsibility
Responsibility is managing or being in charge of something.
for DWP processes, timescales, decisions, and service.
Need more information?
If you'd like more information or guidance please contact our Learning Disability Helpline.