What are Employment and Support Allowance benefits and what are the ESA Easter payment dates?
FINDING information about Employment and Support Allowance benefits can often be confusing and time consuming.
So, we have created this guide to try and demystify ESA benefits, and help you get the help you need.
What are Employment and Support Allowance benefits (ESA)?
ESA is a form of benefits that you can claim if an illness or disability is affecting your capacity to work.
You have to be over 16 to claim ESA and the scheme is available throughout England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
You also have to be under state pension age to claim the benefit.
There are two types of ESA, income related ESA and Contributory ESA.
What is income related ESA?
If you haven't paid enough national insurance tax credits in the last year you might qualify for income related ESA.
Income related ESA can be paid as long as you are unable to work and all other income or capital coming into your household is below the limits set.
The benefit is means tested, meaning the amount of money you receive is based on how much your household earns and how much is in your savings.
If you qualify for Income related ESA you will get paid every two weeks.
What is contribution based ESA?
If you or your partner have paid enough national insurance credits in the last year you might be able to get contribution based ESA.
Contribution based ESA is not means tested and does not take income into account.
Unlike Income related ESA you can only claim contribution based ESA for 365 days after you get the first payment.
You will get paid contribution based ESA every two weeks.
Easter 2018 benefit payments
HERE are the dates when benefits are being paid this week ahead of the Easter bank holiday weekend.
Child Benefit and Tax Credit payments will be affected by the Easter bank holiday.
Those expecting Child Benefit payments are usually paid early if it's due on a bank holiday.
Child Benefit payments will be made on March 29, if you are expecting them on April 2.
Tax credit payments due on March 30 and April 2, will be paid on March 29.
For the full list of benefit pay schecdules read our guide here.
How do I apply for ESA?
The quickest way to apply for ESA is to apply by phone on 0800 055 6688.
The phone call usually lasts around half an hour as you have to give all your details over the phone.
Alternatively you can fill in a ESA1 form and send it to your local job centre, this form asks exactly the same questions as the phone service.
You will also have to complete a ESA50 medical questionnaire and go to an appointment with a medical practitioner.
This entire process can take up to 13 weeks for you to receive ESA benefits.
If you apply over the phone and are deemed eligible for ESA you can receive a smaller amount of money whilst your application is being processed.
Whilst your application is being processed you can receive a weekly payment of up to £73.10 if you are over 25, up to £57.90 if you are under 24 and up to £114.85 if you are in a couple.
How much money is ESA worth?
AFTER your ESA claim has gone through you will be put into either contribution based ESA or income related ESA.
You will also be part of either the support group or the work related activities group.
Depending on both your income and which of these two sets of groups you are put in to will determine how much your weekly payments are.
If you are put into the support group can expect to recieve up to £109.65 a week.
If you are on income related ESA and in the support group you can recieve up to £124.65 a week.
There is also an extra premium for couples, if you are on income related ESA, in the support group and a part of a couple you can recieve up to £132.50 a week.
If you are in the work related activity group you can recieve up to £73.10 a week.
If you moved onto ESA from being on incapacity benefit, severe disability allowance or income support , and you are in the work related activity group you can recieve up to £102.15 a week.
What happens after my application is approved?
If the Department for Work and Pensions decides you are unable to work you will be put into either the support group or the work-related activity group.
Once you application has gone through you will also receive all the back dated ESA payments from when you started your application to when your application was approved.
What happens if I am put in the support group?
If you are put in this group it means that the DWP expects that you will never be able to work full time.
You will get up £109.65 a week, with an extra £15 if you are also on income related ESA, there is also an extra premium of £22.85 as a couple.
If you are in the support group you will not be expected to look for work or take part in work related activities such as practising job interviews.
What happens if I am put in the work-related activity group?
If you are put in the work related activity group, the DWP has deemed that you will be able to go back to work at some point in the future.
Although you will not be expected to look for work, you will have to meet with an adviser and complete work related actives like such as practise job interviews and other training.
Failing to complete these activities could cut your benefits or stop them completely.
In this group you can receive weekly payments of up to £73.10 if this is your first time claiming ESA, or up to £102.15 if you have moved on to ESA from Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disability Allowance or Income Support.
Do I qualify for additional premiums?
What is the difference between ESA and Universal Credit
HERE are the differences between ESA and Universal Credit.
There is no guarantee that you will get the same amount of money under Universal Credit that you have done with Income Related ESA. Here are the differences between ESA and Universal Credit.
Universal Credit depends on your income, whereas ESA is based on your National Insurance contributions.
ESA is paid to an individual, Universal Credit is a single household payment.
ESA doesn’t take into account any savings you have.
If you have a partner who is working, their earnings don’t affect your new style ESA payment.
Universal Credit can include money for your rent or childcare costs, new style ESA doesn’t.
ESA is paid every 2 weeks and Universal Credit is usually paid every month.
Additional weekly premiums are available for people already on income related ESA.
You can receive a severe disability premium of up to £62 as a single person or £124.90 as a couple if you live alone and no one receives carers allowance for caring for you.
More on money
If you are in the support group and below pension qualifying age you can receive an enhanced disability premium which entitles you to £15.90 for a single claimant and £22.85 for a couple.
If you have reached pension qualifying age and are still receiving ESA you can qualify for pensioner premiums of £49.70 for a single person or £99.35 for a couple.
The amount of premium you receive is based on whether you are in the support or work related activity group.
What is the difference between ESA and Universal Credit
HERE are the differences between ESA and Universal Credit.
There is no guarantee that you will get the same amount of money under Universal Credit that you have done with Income Related ESA. Here are the differences between ESA and Universal Credit.
Universal Credit depends on your income, whereas ESA is based on your National Insurance contributions.
ESA is paid to an individual, Universal Credit is a single household payment.
ESA doesn’t take into account any savings you have.
If you have a partner who is working, their earnings don’t affect your new style ESA payment.
Universal Credit can include money for your rent or childcare costs, new style ESA doesn’t.
ESA is paid every 2 weeks and Universal Credit is usually paid every month.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Money team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 78 24516. Don't forget to join the for the latest bargains and money-saving advice.