You can apply for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) if you have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work.
ESA gives you:
You can apply if you’re employed, self-employed or unemployed.
You can apply for New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) if you’re under State Pension age and you have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work.
You also need to have both:
How much you get will depend on what stage your application is at, as well as things like your age and whether you’re able to get back into work.
If you get New Style ESA you’ll earn Class 1 National Insurance credits, which can help towards your State Pension and some benefits in the future.
If you get New Style ESA
Your payments will be affected if you get more than £85 a week from a private pension. If you do, half of your private pension income over £85 will be subtracted from your ESA payments each week.
For example, if you get £100 a week from a private pension, then £7.50 will be subtracted from your ESA payment each week.
If your private pension income is high enough, you could get no ESA payments. You would still get Class 1 National Insurance credits.
If you get income-related ESA
You cannot make a new claim for income-related ESA. You’ll continue to get payments while you’re eligible until your claim ends.
Your household income and savings worth £6,000 or more may affect how much you can get.
Share your feedback to help us improve our advice and better support people across the Isle of Wight. It only takes a moment.
Page last reviewed in October 2025
Search for something else:
Browse advice categories
