The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed the full list of 22 medical conditions that can qualify for financial support of up to £145 per week through Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
Over one million people across the UK rely on ESA to navigate the financial challenges posed by long-term health conditions and disabilities. The benefit is intended to give support to those who cannot work or can only work a limited amount.
Eligibility and assessment
You can apply for ESA if you have a disability or health condition that impacts how much you can work. The benefit provides money to help with living costs and support to get back into work if you are able to. This includes a work coach and various services such as employment, training and condition management support.
Eligibility is determined through the Work Capability Assessment (WCA). During this assessment, the DWP focuses on an individual's functional ability—how a condition limits their day-to-day life and work capacity—rather than a specific diagnosis.
You can apply if you are under the state pension age and have a disability that affects how much you can work. You also need to have worked as an employee and paid enough National Insurance contributions in the two full tax years before claiming the benefit.
Payment amounts and groups
How much you get depends on what stage your application is at, as well as things like your age and whether you are able to get back into work. Once assessed, which can take 13 weeks or more, you will be placed into one of two groups if entitled to ESA. If you are able to get back into work in the future, you will be put into the work-related activity group, receiving up to £95.55 a week. Otherwise, you will be put into the support group, receiving up to £145.90 a week.
According to the latest government data, there are a total of 845,873 ESA claims across the country.
Full list of qualifying medical conditions
The DWP has confirmed the following conditions and the number of claimants for each:
- Certain Infectious and Parasitic diseases – 3,973
- Neoplasms – 41,598
- Diseases of the Blood and Blood forming organs and certain diseases involving the immune mechanism – 1,964
- Endocrine, Nutritional and Metabolic diseases – 11,260
- Mental and Behavioural disorders – 3,338,679
- Diseases of the Nervous System – 82,781
- Diseases of the Eye and Adnexa – 8,953
- Diseases of the Ear and Mastoid Process – 4,363
- Diseases of the Circulatory System – 40,542
- Diseases of the Respiratory System – 19,194
- Diseases of the Digestive System – 15,188
- Diseases of the Skin and Subcutaneous System – 3,272
- Disease of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue – 119,732
- Diseases of the Genito-urinary System – 6,624
- Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Puerperium – 570
- Certain conditions originating in the Perinatal period – 5
- Congenital Malformations, Deformations and Chromosomal Abnormalities – 14,705
- Symptoms, signs and abnormal Clinical and Laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified – 80,786
- Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes – 22,467
- External causes of morbidity and mortality – 1,985
- Factors influencing Health Status and contact with Health Services – 20,704
- Codes for special purposes – 6,540
ESA rates for the 2026/27 tax year, effective from 6 April 2026, are generally split into an assessment phase and a main phase, with additional components depending on the outcome of a Work Capability Assessment. People can claim up to £231 a week if eligible, with support groups and enhanced premiums taken into account.
