What disability and sickness benefits can I claim?

You might be able to claim Statutory Sick Pay of £123.25 a week (2026/27) for up to 28 weeks if:

• you’re employed, but not able to work
• your average earnings for the two months before you stopped working were at least £125 a week.

If you are still too unwell to return to work when your SSP ends, you might be able to get ESA. You can apply for New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) up to three months before your sick pay ends.

You cannot get SSP if you are self-employed. This includes if you are a sole trader, or partner in a limited company. Applying for the New Style ESA is your main option if you cannot work due to illness. 

The eligibility criteria for SSP was changed in April 2026. This means that if you are a ‘worker’ you are eligible to receive sick pay. Many people working in the ‘gig economy’ count as workers and are entitled to sick pay.

Check your employment status with a tool provided by HMRC. It is anonymous and will not ask for your name or any personal details. If you are a worker for tax purposes, you will be entitled to SSP. Check if I am a workerOpens in a new window on GOV.UK.

If you're still working and meet the eligibility rules for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), receiving a State Pension doesn't automatically prevent you from qualifying. However, your individual circumstances may affect what you're entitled to. 

If you're over State Pension age and unable to work because of illness, it's worth checking whether you may also qualify for other forms of financial support, such as Pension Credit or Attendance Allowance, depending on your circumstances.

If you're unemployed, you can't usually claim SSP because it's paid by employers to eligible employees and workers.  

However, if you're unable to work because of sickness or disability, you may be able to claim New Style (ESA) if you meet the National Insurance contribution conditions, or Universal Credit if you're on a low income or need additional financial support.  

If you've recently lost your job while receiving SSP, you may be able to apply for New Style ESA before your SSP ends if you expect to remain too unwell to return to work. 

If your Statutory Sick Pay has run out, or you don’t qualify for it (for example, because you're self-employed) you might be able to get New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). 

This is paid if you can’t work or can only work a few hours a week because of sickness or disability. To qualify, you need to have been paying National Insurance contributions for the past two to three years.

If you don’t qualify for Statutory Sick Pay or New Style Employment and Support Allowance, or they aren’t enough to meet your needs you might be able to claim Universal Credit.

You might end up getting more money if you claim both, particularly if you pay rent or have children to support.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, or Adult Disability Payment (ADP) in Scotland, is paid if you find it difficult to carry out daily tasks or get about.

It’s not means-tested, which means you could get it regardless of how much income or savings you have.

To qualify for it you must:

• be aged between 16 and State Pension age
• have had these difficulties for three months and expect them to last for at least another nine months (unless you’re terminally ill).

If you need to make a new claim for ADP, you can find out how to apply online or over the phoneOpens in a new window on mygov.scot.

You could get between £30.30 and £194.60 a week (2026/27), depending on how severely your condition affects you.

You can only make a new claim for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or CDP for children under 16.

It’s not means-tested, which means you could get it regardless of how much income or savings you have.

Your child could get between £30.30 and £194.60 a week (2026/27), depending on how severely their condition affects them.

You might qualify for Attendance Allowance in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, or the Pension Age Disability Payment in Scotland, if:

• you need help with personal care
• you need supervision to keep you safe
• you’re at State Pension age or over and aren’t already claiming PIP or ADP (as they carry on past pension age if awarded before).

Yes. You may be able to claim sickness or disability benefits if depression, anxiety or another mental health condition affects your ability to work or carry out everyday activities. The benefit you can claim depends on your circumstances. 

For example, you could claim: 

• Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) if you're employed and temporarily unable to work.  
• New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) if you can't work because of your health and meet the National Insurance contribution conditions.  
• Universal Credit if you're on a low income or need additional financial support.  
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Adult Disability Payment (ADP) if your condition makes everyday tasks or getting around more difficult.  
• Your eligibility is based on how your condition affects you, rather than your diagnosis alone.

Most people under pension age can no longer make a new claim for Housing Benefit and will have to claim the housing costs element of Universal Credit instead.

If you’ve reached State Pension age, you might still be able to put in a new claim for Housing Benefit.

You might get help towards interest payments on your mortgage. This is called Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI).

SMI is usually paid directly to the lender 13 weeks after you first apply for this benefit. If you're claiming Pension Credit you can qualify for SMI straightaway.

It’s paid as a loan and has its own interest rate. You’ll have to pay this back either when you sell your house, or voluntarily when you’re able to – for example, when you return to work.

If you’re on a low income or you or someone you live with is disabled you might be able to get help with Council Tax or Rates payments. You might also be entitled to pay less if you need a larger or adapted property because of a disability.

In England, Scotland and Wales, you might be able to pay Council Tax for a lower band than the property you live in. For example, if you live in a Band B property because you need the space to get around in your wheelchair, you might only need to pay Band A Council Tax.  

In Northern Ireland you can get a 25% discount on your Rates if your home has been adapted to meet the needs of a disabled person.  

People with severe mental impairments, as described in the legislation, can be exempt from paying any Council Tax. If you live alone with someone who is exempt for that reason then you’d be able to claim a 25% single person discount on your Council Tax in England, Scotland and Wales.  

Each local council has their own Council Tax Reduction scheme, so the help you get depends on where you live.

England and Wales

Contact your local council to find out more about their Council Tax Reduction scheme in England and WalesOpens in a new window on GOV.UK.

Scotland

Contact your local authority to find out about their Council Tax Reduction scheme in ScotlandOpens in a new window on mygov.scot.

Northern Ireland

You’ll need to claim Rate Relief instead. Find out more help with paying ratesOpens in a new window on nidirect.

If your disability or illness was caused at work, you might be able to claim Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.

You must have been working for an employer or taking part in approved training. You won’t be able to claim it if you were self-employed.

The amount you can get depends on how severely your condition affects you.

It isn’t means-tested, so you could get it regardless of how much income or savings you have.

If you’ve reached State Pension age, you’ll be able to claim the State Pension.

If you’re on a low income, you might be able to top it up with Pension Credit.

However, if you’re in a couple and only one of you is over State Pension age, you’ll have to claim Universal Credit instead of Pension Credit until you both reach State Pension age.

Benefits that help you with the extra care needs of being sick or disabled aren’t means-tested. These include Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Attendance Allowance and the Scottish equivalents. This means they’re not affected by your income and savings.

Other benefits, such as Universal Credit and Pension Credit, are affected by your income and savings – and your partner’s too.

Even if you have income and/or savings, it’s worth getting a benefits check to find out what you might be entitled to.

If a friend or family member cares for you, there’s also support available for them.

People who get the higher rate mobility element of Disability Living Allowance (for their child) or Personal Independence Payment or ADP for themselves. The scheme can provide a car, motorised wheelchair or scooter.

Call Motability on 0300 456 4566Opens in a new window.

The Blue Badge scheme helps people with severe mobility problems who have difficulty using public transport to park close to where they need to go. Charges and entitlement rules for the Blue Badge scheme vary across the UK.

Apply online for the blue badge(Opens in a new window) on GOV.UK or contact your local council.

There’s plenty of free help available if you’re unsure about what benefits you’re entitled to, or need help with making a claim.

If you claim benefits, you must explain your condition and how it affects you. Otherwise you might not get all the help you’re entitled to.

Find out more in our guide Where can I get help and advice about benefits?

If you can’t manage your benefits yourself, an individual or organisation can do this on your behalf.

This is called being an appointee. They become responsible for dealing with your Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or Social Security Scotland benefits.

Your local council will have a ‘corporate appointee and deputyship’ team who can advise and assist you. 

If you have a learning disability, there are not-for-profit organisations you can ask to help you with your benefits as your advocate and appointee.

Prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, whatever your age and circumstances.

If you live in England and you’re getting certain benefits or you’re on a low income, you might be able to get help with health costs.

These include:

• dental costs
• eyecare costs
• NHS prescriptions
• help with travel costs to hospital appointments.