Positive start for Employment and Support Allowance

Minister for Social Development Margaret Ritchie MLA has announced a positive start for the new Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) benefit.

ESA replaced Incapacity Benefit and Income Support on the grounds of Incapacity for new claimants only last month.

Margaret Ritchie said: “In the first two weeks of Employment and Support Allowance being in place, the customer enquiry centre has handled approximately 1,000 calls. Our trained staff have been able to handle customer enquiries and claims on the telephone very efficiently.

“The new telephony service is part of our commitment to ensure that clients experience the most accurate and efficient claims process. When the call is made to the ESA Centre that is the date that the claim is registered, which is to the financial benefit of the customer.”

The most efficient and accurate way for the majority of customers to make a claim to ESA is by telephone. Making an application by telephone will help customers get their money sooner by cutting out postage and processing delays. For customers with speech or hearing difficulties, a text phone service is available. Additionally, face to face assistance is available from local Jobs and Benefits Offices or from nominated representatives who can help customers apply by phone. Finally, claims can be made using printed forms if required.

The best way for customers to receive a printed form is to ring the ESA Centre who will arrange for one to be sent out. This call can be made by an appointed representative of the customer, and the date of the claim is registered from the date of the call. Forms can also be obtained from local Jobs and Benefit or Social Security Offices, from the Benefit Shop in Belfast, or downloaded from the Department’s website at www.dsdni.gov.uk. Forms will be available from local advice centres, constituency offices of MLAs and MPs and customer representative groups in the near future.

Notes to Editors:

1. From 27 October 2008 Employment and Support Allowance replaced Incapacity Benefit and Income Support paid on incapacity grounds for new customers.
2. Existing Incapacity Benefit or Income Support customers will initially continue to receive their existing benefits, so long as they satisfy the entitlement conditions.
3. For customers wishing to make a new claim to Employment and Support Allowance they, or an appointed representative, should ring the ESA Centre on 0800 085 6318.
4. If a customer would like to make a claim and they suffer from speech or hearing difficulties, they should ring text phone 0800 328 3419.
5. If the customer has already contacted the ESA Centre and wishes to report a change in his/her circumstances, or provide any additional information, they should telephone 0845 602 730.
6. Employment and Support Allowance offers personalised support and financial help if people are not working due to an illness or disability. It gives people access to a specially trained personal adviser and a wide range of further services.
7. Central to Employment and Support Allowance are the new medical assessments which examine what people can do, rather than what they can’t, and identify what personal support they might need.
8. Most people claiming Employment and Support Allowance will be expected to take appropriate steps to help prepare for work, including attending a series of work-focused interviews with a personal adviser.
9. Under Employment and Support Allowance people with an illness or disability that means they are unable to undertake any form of work-related activity will get increased financial support and will not be expected to prepare for a return to work.
10. More information about the benefits of work for health can be found at www.workingforhealth.gov.uk
11. Media enquiries to DSD Press Office on 028 9082 9497. Out of Office hours contact the EIS Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715440.