Official Employment and Support Allowance number
For an existing Employment and Support Allowance claim, call the DWP ESA helpline on 0800 169 0310. GOV.UK lists this number for questions about an ESA claim, including payments, changes of circumstances and decisions.
Welsh speakers can call 0800 328 1744. GOV.UK states that both services open Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm, excluding bank holidays.
| Contact route | Official number or service | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| ESA helpline | 0800 169 0310 | Existing claim, payment, decision or change of circumstances |
| Welsh-language ESA helpline | 0800 328 1744 | ESA support in Welsh |
| Textphone | 0800 169 0314 | Textphone users contacting ESA |
| Relay UK | 18001 then 0800 169 0310 | People who cannot hear or speak on the telephone |
| New Style ESA application | GOV.UK online application | Starting a new claim where the contribution conditions may be met |
These contact details are published by GOV.UK and were checked on 5 August 2026. GOV.UK says calls to its listed 0800 numbers are free from landlines and mobiles.
Which ESA contact route should you use?
The correct route depends on whether you already receive ESA or want to make a new claim. New claims are generally for New Style Employment and Support Allowance, which GOV.UK says is based principally on the claimant's National Insurance contribution record.
- Existing ESA claim: call 0800 169 0310.
- New Style ESA claim: apply through the official GOV.UK New Style ESA service.
- Universal Credit query: use your online journal or the official Universal Credit contact route, not the ESA helpline.
- Mandatory reconsideration: follow the instructions on the DWP decision letter and keep evidence of the date you challenged the decision.
- Work Capability Assessment appointment: use the assessment provider's details shown on your appointment letter.
Warning: Do not give bank details, passwords or security codes to an unexpected caller claiming to be from the DWP. End the call and use the number printed on your official letter or the ESA number independently published on GOV.UK.
If illness or disability is affecting household income, check whether other help is available through SupportFund's disability benefits guidance and a benefits calculator.
What happened to income-related ESA?
Income-related ESA is a legacy benefit and is not open to new claims. The DWP's managed-migration timetable targeted completion of moves for income-related ESA claimants by the end of March 2026; that date is now historic and should not be interpreted as permission to make a new legacy ESA claim.
If you received a Migration Notice, the deadline and instructions on that notice governed when you had to claim Universal Credit. Contact the Universal Credit service if the move has happened, or the ESA helpline if your query concerns an ESA payment or decision from before the transfer.
Important: Transitional protection can depend on making a Universal Credit claim in response to a valid Migration Notice and within its deadline. GOV.UK advises claimants to follow the notice carefully; a voluntary claim made in different circumstances may not receive the same protection.
Read how Universal Credit works before reporting a change or beginning a claim. For personalised entitlement advice, use an independent welfare-rights adviser or Citizens Advice.
Prepare before calling the ESA helpline
Having the relevant information ready can reduce the chance of a second call. The DWP may need to complete security checks before discussing a claim.
- Your National Insurance number.
- Your full name, address and date of birth.
- The date and heading of any DWP letter you are calling about.
- Relevant payment dates shown on your bank statement.
- Details of a change in health, work, earnings, address or household circumstances.
- Pen and paper to record the adviser's name, the time of the call and any action agreed.
Ask the adviser to explain anything unclear and request written confirmation where appropriate. If reporting a change, describe when it happened rather than only when you noticed its effect on your payment.
If a delayed or missing payment leaves you unable to cover essentials, explore emergency household help while the DWP investigates. Local support does not replace an ESA payment, but it may help address immediate food, energy or housing pressure.
If you cannot use the telephone
GOV.UK lists a textphone service on 0800 169 0314 and Relay UK access by dialling 18001 followed by 0800 169 0310. British Sign Language users should check the current GOV.UK ESA contact page for the official video relay option.
You can ask another person to help with a call, but the DWP may still need to speak to you to confirm your identity and permission. A formal appointee can manage benefit matters where the DWP has authorised that arrangement because the claimant cannot manage their own affairs.
Keep copies of letters and screenshots of online confirmations. Before acting, confirm current contact details, eligibility rules and any applicable 2026/27 rates directly on GOV.UK.