How much is ESA?

For people whose disability or health condition affects how much they can work

Applies to: England, Scotland, Wales Last checked against official sources: 6 October 2026

New Style ESA is for people whose disability or health condition affects how much they can work. While your claim is assessed (usually 13 weeks), you get up to £75.65 a week if under 25, or £95.55 if 25 or over. After assessment:

Work-related activity group: up to £95.55 a week
Support group: up to £145.90 a week

It's paid every 2 weeks. You can't make a new claim for income-related ESA.

Different in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Rules may be different in:

Northern Ireland: Check nidirect for Northern Ireland

Key facts

Assessment rate up to £95.55
Support group up to £145.90
Paid every 2 weeks

New Style ESA rates for 2026/27

New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is for people who cannot work, or can only work a little, because of illness or disability, and who have paid enough National Insurance.

Stage	Who	Per week
Assessment phase (usually the first 13 weeks)	Under 25	£75.65
Assessment phase	25 or over	£95.55
After assessment: work-related activity group	Any age	£95.55
After assessment: support group	Any age	£145.90 (£95.55 plus £50.35)

Who can get it

You can usually claim New Style ESA if you:

have a health condition or disability that affects how much you can work
are under State Pension age
have paid enough National Insurance contributions, usually in the last 2 to 3 years (National Insurance credits also count)

If you get an occupational or personal pension of more than £85 a week, your ESA is reduced by half of the amount over £85.

How long it lasts

Work-related activity group: up to 365 days.
Support group: no time limit while you stay in the group.

The Work Capability Assessment

After you claim, you usually fill in a questionnaire and may have an assessment. This decides whether you are fit for work, in the work-related activity group (expected to take steps towards work) or in the support group (not expected to do work-related activity). You stay on the assessment rate until the decision, and you may need to send fit notes regularly.

ESA and Universal Credit

You can get New Style ESA and Universal Credit at the same time if you are on a low income. Your ESA counts as income, so your Universal Credit is reduced by the same amount. Income-related ESA is closed to new claims; Universal Credit has replaced it.

Related guides

Where these figures come from

Rates are from the Department for Work and Pensions' official Benefit and pension rates 2026 to 2027. Rates usually change every April. The rules are from GOV.UK's ESA guide: What you'll get, Eligibility and Your ESA claim.

Get it done

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

See how to claim

Common questions

Does a private pension affect ESA?

Yes. Half of any private pension over £85 a week is taken off.

Official sources

1.ESA: what you'll getwww.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance/what-youll-get
2.Employment and Support Allowancewww.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance

Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026

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