Introducing employment and support allowance

Nov 18 2008 By The Journal

THERE is now a new way of helping people with an illness or disability to move into work.

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), introduced on October 27 for new customers only, provides personalised support and financial help to ensure customers who are able to work have every opportunity to do so.

If you currently receive Incapacity Benefit or Income Support because of an illness or disability, there will be no changes for you, as long as you continue to meet the requirements. We intend to move current customers onto ESA over time, as resources allow. In the meantime, you can volunteer for help to get back to work.

Employment and Support Allowance builds on the successful Pathways to Work programme that you may have read about in this supplement. Instead of looking at what you cannot do, Employment and Support allowance is all about identifying what you can do.

With a specially trained personal adviser and, if needed, support to help you manage your illness or disability, it gives you the help you need to achieve your full potential through work.