DWP Confirms Full List of Medical Conditions and Updated ESA Rates for 2025

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has published updated figures detailing the 22 medical conditions that qualify individuals to claim Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), a benefit that can be worth up to £200 per week. The programme offers financial assistance alongside employment-related services designed for those whose health conditions or disabilities restrict their capacity to work. According to reporting from the Manchester Evening News, the new data, while confirming eligibility categories, does not reveal extensive new policy changes. Instead, the DWP focuses on outlining the scope of conditions and the number of claimants affected across the UK.

Eligibility Requirements

According to the DWP, claimants must meet the following conditions:

• Be under State Pension age
• Have a health condition or disability that limits the ability to work
• Not be claiming Statutory Sick Pay or Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Have paid enough National Insurance contributions in the two full tax years before the year of the claim

The most recent government statistics, published in November 2024, show a total of 1,421,898 ESA claims nationwide. Payments increased by 1.7% in April 2025, in line with the inflation rate from September 2024.

Most Common Qualifying Conditions

DWP data shows that the most frequent qualifying condition is mental and behavioural disorders, accounting for 689,342 cases. Other prevalent conditions include:

1. Mental and behavioural disorders – 689,342
2. Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue – 176,399
3. Symptoms, signs, and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings – 127,699
4. Diseases of the nervous system – 118,767
5. Diseases of the circulatory system – 53,782
6. Neoplasms – 45,977
7. Factors influencing health status – 32,265
8. Injury, poisoning, and certain other consequences of external causes – 31,970
9. Diseases of the respiratory system – 31,281
10. Diseases of the digestive system – 22,012
11. Congenital malformations – 19,956
12. Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases – 17,750
13. Diseases of the eye and adnexa – 13,568
14. Diseases of the genito-urinary system – 8,529
15. Certain infectious and parasitic diseases – 6,834
16. Diseases of the ear and mastoid process – 6,779
17. Codes for special purposes – 6,664
18. Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous system – 5,511
19. Diseases of the blood and immune mechanism – 3,106
20. External causes of morbidity and mortality – 2,922
21. Pregnancy, childbirth, and the puerperium – 797
22. Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period – 7

ESA Weekly Rates From April 2025

ESA rates vary depending on the claimant’s age, household circumstances, and any additional components or premiums. According to the DWP, weekly personal allowances are:

• Single under 25: £72.90
• Single 25 or over: £92.05
• Lone parent under 18: £72.90
• Lone parent 18 or over: £92.05

Couples:

• Both under 18: £72.90
• Both under 18 with child: £110.15
• Both under 18 (main phase): £92.05
• Both under 18 with child (main phase): £144.65
• One 18 or over, one under 18 (certain conditions apply): £144.65
• Both over 18: £144.65
• Claimant under 25, partner under 18: £72.90
• Claimant 25 or over, partner under 18: £92.05
• Claimant (main phase), partner under 18: £92.05

Premiums:

• Enhanced disability – single: £21.20
• Enhanced disability – couple: £30.25
• Severe disability – single: £82.90
• Severe disability – couple (lower rate): £82.90
• Severe disability – couple (higher rate): £165.80
• Carer: £46.40

ESA pensioner rates:

• Single with work-related activity component: £98.50
• Single with support component: £86.55
• Single with no component: £135.05
• Couple with work-related activity component: £165.40
• Couple with support component: £153.45
• Couple with no component: £201.95

Components:

• Work-related activity: £36.55
• Support: £48.50

Payments are made every two weeks, ensuring a regular schedule that allows claimants to manage their household budgets more effectively. The exact amount a person receives depends on their individual circumstances, including age, living arrangements, and any additional components or premiums they may qualify for under ESA rules. Claimants are encouraged to review the latest eligibility criteria, as well as any recent updates to benefit rates, before applying. Full details and official guidance, including how to start or maintain a claim, are provided directly through the DWP and can also be accessed via the government’s official gov.uk website.