Universal Credit is gradually replacing Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) as the main benefit to claim if you can’t work because of sickness or disability. This page tells you more about how Universal Credit works and how current sickness and disability benefits like ESA, Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Disability Living Allowance (DLA) will be affected by Universal Credit.
What is Universal Credit?
Universal Credit is a new benefit that’s replacing six existing benefits. It’s paid differently to other benefits in that it’s usually paid monthly.
Can I claim Universal Credit if I’m sick or disabled?
At the moment, Universal Credit mostly affects people who are single, newly unemployed and looking for work in England, Scotland and Wales.
However, some areas offer a full service, which means they can handle most claimants. If you live in a ‘full service’ areayou may have to make a claim for Universal Credit rather than ESA if you can’t work because of sickness or disability.
If your Jobcentre offers a full service, you will be expected to make and manage your claim mostly online.
Find out if you can claim Universal Credit on
GOV.UK
In Northern Ireland Universal Credit will become available only to single jobseekers from September 2017. If you’re sick or disabled, it’s likely you will be asked to claim other benefits instead.
Can I claim Universal Credit if I’m working?
You can claim Universal Credit if you’re working, and if you’re assessed as having limited capability for work, you can earn a certain amount before your Universal Credit payments are affected. This is known as the work allowance.
If you earn more than the work allowance, your Universal Credit payments will gradually reduce as your pay increases.
How does Universal Credit affect PIP and DLA?
If you’re an adult and getting either Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA), it will continue to be paid along with your Universal Credit payment.
You get these benefits if your condition is severe enough for you to qualify for them. They won’t affect the amount you get in Universal Credit.
However, if you’re claiming DLA or PIP for a sick or disabled child, the rate of benefit you’re getting can affect your Universal Credit payment.
Moving from Employment and Support Allowance to Universal Credit
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance is one of the benefits that Universal Credit is replacing. If you are already claiming ESA, you don’t do need to do anything. DWP will contact you when it’s time to move on to Universal Credit.
Will I get less money if I move from ESA to Universal Credit?
The rates paid for the limited capability for work elements are lower than the current ESA rates.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has said that as long as your circumstances stay the same, you won’t lose any money when you move onto Universal Credit.
You will either get the same amount of benefit as you do now or you might get more. This is called transitional protection.
However, if you have a change of circumstances, your claim for Universal Credit will be reassessed and the amount you get might drop.
Work Capability Assessment
When you make a claim for Universal Credit, you may be asked to attend a Work Capability Assessment. This is designed to assess how your disability or illness affects your ability to work.
You will be assessed as being in one of the following categories:
- You are fit for work
- You have limited capability for work - which means that although you may be unable to look for work now, you can prepare to work at some time in the future
- You have limited capability for work and work-related activity - which means that you won’t be asked to look for work or prepare for work
The assessment will also be used to decide which rate of the limited capability for work element you should get.
Limited capability for work rates for 2017/2018
| Rate |
Per month |
| Limited capability for work |
£126.11 |
| Limited capability for work and work-related activity |
£318.76 |
Remember, this amount is paid monthly as part of your total Universal Credit payment.
Universal Credit and ‘new style’ Employment and Support Allowance
Depending on your circumstances, if you’re eligible for Universal Credit, you may be able to claim new-style Employment and Support Allowance on top of (or instead of) your Universal Credit payment. This will depend on how much you earn and whether you have made enough National Insurance contributions.
If you are eligible to claim new-style ESA and qualify for help with other costs, like paying your rent or looking after children, you will have to make an additional claim for Universal Credit.
If you aren’t eligible to claim new-style ESA but can claim Universal Credit, you can make a claim for the ‘limited capability for work’ element of Universal Credit.
If you can’t claim Universal Credit
If you don’t live in an area that allows you to claim Universal Credit, you may be invited to make a claim for either contribution-based or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) instead.
If you qualify for help with other costs, like paying your rent or looking after children, you will need to make a claim for existing benefits, such as Housing Benefit or Child Tax Credit.
Am I eligible for new-style ESA?
New-style ESA is a contribution-based benefit. This means you may be able to claim it if you’ve paid enough National Insurance Contributions in the two full tax years before the year you’re claiming in.
It is paid regardless of how much you or your spouse or partner have in income or savings.
You will need to have a fit note from your doctor to start your claim.
Work Capability Assessment
You will usually need to undergo a Work Capability Assessment to find out whether you’re eligible for new-style ESA. If you’re applying for Universal Credit and new-style ESA, you will have a single assessment for both benefits.
You won’t have to undergo an assessment for certain medical conditions. For example:
- any terminal illness
- some pregnancy-related conditions
- some cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
After you’ve made your claim, you’ll be paid a weekly assessment rate for up to 13 weeks while you’re waiting for your work capability assessment appointment.
After your assessment, if it’s decided you can get new-style ESA, you’ll be placed in one of two groups:
- the support group – if your condition is so severe that you can’t work or take steps to prepare for work
- the work-related activity group – if your condition allows you to do some work or to take steps to prepare for work
How much is new-style ESA?
New-style ESA is paid every two weeks for up to a year (365 days).
If you’re also getting Universal Credit for other costs like your rent or support for children, the amount you’re getting in new-style ESA will be deducted from your Universal Credit payment.
| Age |
2017/2018 assessment rate paid for the first 13 weeks |
| 18 to 24 |
up to £57.90 (per week) |
| 25 and over |
up to £73.10 (per week) |
New-style ESA rate - paid after your Work Capability Assessment
| Group |
Rate for 2017/2018 |
| Work-related activity group |
up to £73.10 (per week) |
| Support group |
up to £109.10 (per week) |
If you’re in the support group and on income-related ESA, you’re also entitled to the enhanced disability premium at £15.90 a week.
You may also qualify for the severe disability premium, which is £62.45 per week.
Can I get new-style ESA after one year?
If you’re in the support group, you can continue to get new-style ESA while you remain in this group. You are likely to have another Work Capability Assessment to see if you still qualify.
If you are in the work-related activity group, your new-style ESA payment will stop.
If you’re still eligible for help because of your illness or disability, you may be able to claim the ‘limited capability for work’ element as part of your Universal Credit payment.
Universal Credit if you have a sick or disabled child
If your child is disabled or has a long-term health condition, you may be able to claim the disabled child element as part of your monthly Universal Credit payment.
The rate of disabled child element you get will depend on the rate of DLA or PIP you are getting for them.
You will get the higher rate if your child is:
- Already getting the DLA higher rate care component
- Already getting the PIP enhanced daily living component, or
- Registered blind
You will get the lower rate if your child is getting all other rates of DLA or PIP.
Disabled child element for 2017/18
| Rate |
(per month) |
| Higher |
£372.30 |
| Lower |
£126.11 |
Remember, you will get this payment as part of your single monthly Universal Credit payment.
Universal Credit if you’re caring for someone
If you’re a carer for someone in your household who is severely disabled you may be able to get the ‘carer’s element’ as part of your monthly Universal Credit payment.
How much is it?
The carer’s element is £151.89 a month.
Who gets it?
You should be caring for someone for at least 35 hours a week. You don’t have to be claiming Carer’s Allowance to get the carer’s element.
Will it affect my other benefits?
If the person you’re caring for is also getting Universal Credit, it won’t affect their payment.
However, the benefits of the person you’re caring for can be affected if
- you get the carer’s element, and
- the person you’re caring for gets the severe disability premium
What if there are two carers in one household?
If you and someone else in your household care for the same person, you can’t both get the carer’s element. You will have to decide between you who will claim it.
What if you’re already getting Carer’s Allowance?
If you’re getting Carer’s Allowance you can continue to get it, if you continue to be eligible.
