The Department for Work and Benefits (DWP) has issued a vital update that numerous people could be missing out on significant money related back each month. The DWP's Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) program as of now helps roughly 1.7 million individuals over the Joined together Kingdom.
ESA is intended to offer monetary support to persons with disability, or those with sickness which prevents them from working. If a person happens to be below the state pension age and have a qualifying disability or health condition, then he or she can apply for the ‘new-style’ ESA.
Also, the applicants must be working currently or have worked or been self-employed in the last two to three years so that he or she has made enough National Insurance contributions.
Unfortunately, what needs to be stressed here is that new style ESA cannot be claimed in conjunction with either JSA or SPP. Nevertheless, a person can claim both ESA and Universal Credit at the same time, since it will lower the sum of Universal Credit.
Conditions that Qualify for ESA
The DWP recognises 23 categories of medical conditions that may make you eligible for an ESA, including:
- Infectious and parasitic diseases
- Neoplasms
- Blood disorders
- Metabolic diseases
- Mental and behavioural disorders
- Nervous system diseases
- Eye diseases
- Ear and mastoid process diseases
- Circulatory system diseases
- Respiratory diseases
- Digestive system diseases
- Skin diseases
- Musculoskeletal diseases
- Genito-urinary system diseases
- Pregnancy-related conditions
- Perinatal period conditions
- Congenital malformations
- Clinical and laboratory findings
- Injuries and poisoning
- External causes of morbidity
- Health status and healthcare interactions
- Special purposes codes
- Other unspecified conditions
How to Apply for DWP's ESA
To apply for ESA, you can either complete the process online or call 0800 055 6688. The following information is required:
- Your National Insurance number
- Your bank or building society account details (or a friend/family member’s account if you do not have one)
- Your doctor’s contact information
- A Fit Note (also known as a sick note or a statement of fitness for work) if you’ve been unable to work for over seven days due to your condition
- Details of your income if you are currently working
- The date your Statutory Sick Pay ends, if applicable
When filing your application, you will be required to provide some evidence. A telephone call is made to guide you on how to submit the evidence. Usually, you get the ‘assessment rate’ which is payable for up to 13 weeks provided the DWP is still evaluating your claim.
The 'assessment rate' is:
- Up to £67.20 per week for those under 25
- Up to £84.80 per week for those 25 and over
Those undergoing a claim assessment can expect to receive Employment Support Allowance for up to 13 weeks. After this period, you will be paid the assessment rate until a decision is made or until entitlement is exhausted. After assessment, you will be placed into one of two groups:
- Work-Related Activity Group: For those who are expected to return to work in the future. This group receives up to £84.80 per week.
- Support Group: For those with severe conditions affecting their ability to work. This group receives up to £129.50 per week.
ESA payments are made bi-weekly. For instance, if you fall in the support group you could get up to £518 per month. Besides, those in the support group and receiving ESA on the basis of income might become eligible for the enhanced disability premium and perhaps also the severe disability premium, for yet more financial help.