You might be able to claim New Style ESA, based on your National Insurance record, if you can’t work or can only do limited hours because of:

• sickness or disability
• your Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) has run out, or
• you’re self-employed and don’t qualify for SSP.

Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) ended in April 2026 and was replaced by Universal Credit.

Income-related ESA has now been replaced by Universal Credit. If you used to claim this, you should have had a letter explaining how to move to Universal Credit and your next steps.  

Before April 2026, you might have been getting Income-Related ESA as a top-up to New Style ESA. Although the Income-related ESA will have been replaced by Universal Credit, the New Style ESA should carry-on. 

If you need any help or support at this stage about benefits being replaced by Universal CreditOpens in a new window, details were provided within your letter, or you can visit GOV.UK.

If you didn’t get a letter, or can’t remember what action you took, call the Universal Credit Migration Notice Helpline Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm on 0800 169 0328Opens in a new window.  

You might be getting less money than you should be if you didn’t claim Universal Credit or it wasn’t worked out accurately for you. If your circumstances haven’t changed, you shouldn’t have less money to live on than when you got ESA.

Universal Credit is different to income-related ESA and doesn’t include the severe disability premium that you might have previously had.

There are some protections available to you but seek specialist advice if you have any questions.  

Find out more at entitledto about how your benefits are affected if you were getting Severe Disability PremiumOpens in a new window

To qualify for New Style ESA, you need to have been paying or credited with National Insurance contributions for the past two to three years.

This means that for the 2026/27 tax year, you need to have earned at least £125 a week, £542 a month or £6,500 a year. For previous years the rates are slightly lower.

Some people may be eligible to make a ‘credits only’ claim for New Style ESA.  This means you would not receive any money but would have credits added to your National Insurance record for each week you are entitled.  This helps with entitlement to other benefits, such as your State Pension, in the future.

Check if you’ve paid enough National Insurance contributions by calling HMRC on 0300 200 3500 (or 0300 200 3519 if you have a speech or hearing impairment). 

You can also check your National Insurance record onlineOpens in a new window on GOV.UK.

New Style ESA is only paid for you, and not for any partner, children or rent. If you need extra income, you need to claim Universal Credit. Your savings and your partners income don’t affect your right to new-style ESA or how much you get.   

If you qualify for New Style ESA, you’ll be put into one of two groups after an initial assessment called the Work Capability Assessment, the following 2026/27 tax year amounts are taxable:

• You are put in the ‘work-related activity group’ if the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) expects you to return to work at some point. It’s paid for up to one year.
  • In this case you’ll typically receive a £95.55 a week personal allowance. If you have been claiming since 2017, there is also a £37.95 a week work-related activity component.
  • If you’re under 25, it's a personal allowance of £75.65. There is also a £37.95 a week work-related activity component but only in limited circumstances.
• You are put in the ‘support group’ if your illness or disability means you can’t return to work or undertake work-related activity – in this case you’ll typically get £145.90 a week. This is made up of the personal allowance of £95.55 and the support component of £50.35. There’s no time limit.

If you are unhappy with which group you are placed in after the assessment, or you are found to be fit for work, you can ask the DWP to reconsider their decision and then appeal it. 

If your household income is low enough and you need extra support with housing costs or bringing up children, you might be able to claim Universal Credit alongside New Style ESA.

If you qualify for ESA, any amount of Universal Credit you get will reduce by the same amount.

The benefit of applying for New Style ESA alongside Universal Credit if you qualify for both, apart from the extra income, is that you’ll get Class 1 National Insurance credits while receiving New Style ESA.

This applies whether you’re employed or self-employed. These credits will count towards your future State Pension entitlement – and your entitlement to certain other contribution-based benefits, such as bereavement support payments.