Employment and support allowance

You may be able to get Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) if you have a disability or health condition that makes it hard to work. You can apply whether you are employed, self-employed or not working.

ESA gives you:

  • money to help with living costs if you cannot work

  • support to help you get back into work if you are able

You can check if your eligible for Employment and Support Allowance on the GOV.UK website (this link opens in a new tab and will take you away from our site).

If you need help with rent while claiming ESA, you will also need to apply for Universal Credit. You can find out more about Universal Credit on our helpful webpage.

For advice and support with benefits, you can call our Financial Inclusion Team on 0344 736 0066.

For help with claiming benefits, please call our Income Team on 0344 736 0066.