KEY FACTS:
- ESA is an out of work benefit for people who, due to an illness or disability, would struggle to work.
- There are two types of ESA: Contributory ESA and Income-Related ESA. Some people receive just one type, others get both.
- Universal Credit is replacing Income-Related ESA.
- This means that it is no longer possible for most people to make a new claim for Income-Related ESA (with the exception of claimants with 3 or more children who make their claim before 1.2.19 and claimants who are subject to the (proposed) Severe Disability Premium ’gateway condition’ from 16.1.19 onwards).
- Existing IR-ESA claimants will move onto Universal Credit some time between now and 2023, either following certain changes in their circumstances (natural migration) or when they are told by the DWP to claim UC (managed migration).
- Contributory ESA is not being replaced by Universal Credit. It is still possible to make a claim for Contributory ESA. For new claims, it is called ‘New Style’ ESA. The claimant might need to claim Universal Credit too.
- Someone will only be entitled to ESA if they are treated as having, or found to have a 'limited capability for work' under the 'Work Capability Assessment'.
Click on the icons below for more information.