Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
From 27th October 2008, Employment and Support Allowance replaced Incapacity Benefit and Income Support paid on incapacity grounds for new customers.
- To make a claim phone freephone 0800 0856318
- If you have speech or hearing difficulties ring 0800 3283418
- Or textphone 0800 3283419
Customers can now also complete a claim to Housing Benefit while making an application for ESA on the freephone claim line
If you are unable to claim by phone you can claim via a representative or interpreter; by completing a printed claim form, which can be obtained by calling the Employment and Support Allowance Centre on the number listed above, or from your local Jobs and Benefits/Social Security Office where a claim may be made face to face, or download Employment and Support Allowance forms 
.
Key facts
The key things you need to know about Employment and Support Allowance.
More information for Customers
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) replaced Incapacity Benefit and Income Support (paid on the grounds of incapacity), for new customers only, on 27th October 2008.
Customers claiming Incapacity Benefit or Income Support (paid on the grounds of incapacity) Allowance before 27th October 2008 are Not currently affected by the introduction of Employment and Support Allowance.
Advisers and customer representatives
Employment and Support Allowance is designed to enable your clients or constituents to achieve their full potential through work, and to support those for whom work is not a viable option. The Social Security Agency aims to work closely with advisers, customer representative groups and elected representatives to ensure our shared customers get the information, advice and support they need.
Healthcare Professionals
Employment and Support Allowance has not meant significant changes to the way healthcare professionals deal with patients or the paperwork they complete. The Social Security Agency already asks GPs to fill in forms to provide us with information about patients, and some of the forms have changed.
Employers
If any of your employees are receiving Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) and this were to stop or no longer be payable, that employee may well transfer to Employment and Support Allowance. For this to happen, you are required to supply them with an SSP1 form, and from 27 October the form has changed.
