ESA Helpline Contact Number

The ESA helpline (Employment and Support Allowance) can be contacted by phone: Open Monday-Friday – 8:00 AM-6:00 PM.

ESA Telephone Helpline Hours

The ESA helpline is available to take your call Monday-Friday – 8:00 AM-6:00 PM. Holiday support hours may differ.

Day	Open	Closed
Monday	8:00 AM	6:00 PM
Tuesday	8:00 AM	6:00 PM
Wednesday	8:00 AM	6:00 PM
Thursday	8:00 AM	6:00 PM
Friday	8:00 AM	6:00 PM

Tips for Contacting Employment and Support Allowance

• Be prepared, clear and concise. The ESA contact number team won’t rush you, but you should have your situation “conversation ready”. If you have trouble remembering the finer points of your claim, it’s a good idea to write these down before you make the call.

• Get through to the right department. Listen carefully to the options available at the Employment and Support Allowance number and select the most appropriate option from the menu provided.

• Have your details ready. You will need your national insurance number, address, birth date, employment status, etc.. Also, keep a pen and paper handy in case you need to write something down – such as assessment details, appointment addresses or an ESA phone number.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I claim ESA?

You can claim if you meet the following criteria:

• You are 16 years of age or older
• You live within Great Britain or Northern Ireland
• You are not able to claim a state pension
• You have a fit-note (a note from a qualified medical professional stating that you cannot work)

How do I make a claim?

The easiest way is to call the ESA number provided. You will need the following:

• Medical certificate
• Council tax bill
• Telephone numbers (including mobile)
• Mortgage or tenancy details
• National insurance number
• Doctor address and telephone number
• Employer’s details (if employed)
• Bank account details
• Details of any other benefit you are receiving or any other monies earned

What types of ESA are there?

These 2 types are:

• Income based ESA. Financial support will depend on your needs.
• Contribution based ESA. Lasts for 1 year and is tied to the contributions you have made in taxes.

About ESA

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is a government welfare or benefit organisation that was implemented to grant financial support to people in the UK who are unable to find employment due to long term illness or disability.

There is support within this government department to encourage people who have recovered from their illnesses, to return to the workforce. It was established in 2008 and in 2011 began a “second assessment” initiative brought on by the conservative government.

This assessment was to apply more stringent methods of testing as the idea behind this was that 40% of the people claiming this benefit, were actually fit enough to work (reference), or at least fit enough to retrain and enter the workforce within a couple of years.

Postal Address

Below is a list of new postal addresses  – Although there are several addresses, the Employment and Support Allowance contact number is still the same:

ESA Aberdeen (From 29/02/2016)
ESA Aberdeen
Mail Handling Site A
Wolverhampton
WV98 2AR

ESA Barnsley (From 16/11/2015)
ESA Barnsley
Mail Handling Site A
Wolverhampton
WV98 2AJ

ESA Bathgate (From 11/04/2016)
ESA Bathgate
Mail Handling Site A
Wolverhampton
WV98 2AW

ESA Caerphilly (From 04/04/2016)
ESA Caerphilly
Post Handling Site B
Wolverhampton
WV99 2GA

ESA Chippenham (From 08/02/2016)
ESA Chippenham
Post Handling Site B
Wolverhampton
WV99 2FW

ESA Hackney (From 28/03/2016)
ESA Hackney
Mail Handling Site A
Wolverhampton
WV98 2AT

ESA Hanley (From 07/03/2016)
ESA Hanley
Post Handling Site B
Wolverhampton
WV99 2FY

ESA Hull (From 01/06/2015)
ESA Hull
Mail Handling Site A
Wolverhampton
WV98 2AG

ESA Llanelli (From 14/12/2015)
ESA Llanelli
Post Handling Site B
Wolverhampton
WV99 2FL

ESA Merthyr Tydfil (From 14/12/2015)
ESA Merthyr Tydfil
Post Handling Site B
Wolverhampton
WV99 2FN

ESA Oldham (From 01/02/2016)
ESA Oldham
Post Handling Site B
Wolverhampton
WV99 2FU

ESA Peterborough (From 11/04/2016)
ESA Peterborough
Post Handling Site B
Wolverhampton
WV99 2GB

ESA St Austell (From 11/01/2016)
ESA St Austell
Mail Handling Site A
Wolverhampton
WV98 2AY

ESA Stockton (From 21/03/2016)
ESA Stockton
Mail Handling Site A
Wolverhampton
WV98 2AU

ESA Stratford (From 18/01/2016)
ESA Stratford
Mail Handling Site A
Wolverhampton
WV98 2AQ

ESA Sunderland (From 22/02/2016)
ESA Sunderland
Mail Handling Site A
Wolverhampton
WV98 2AS

ESA Worthing (From 25/01/2016)
ESA Worthing
Post Handling Site B
Wolverhampton
WV99 2FS