What are the groups of ESA?

There are three decisions the SSA can make about your ESA claim.

They could decide:

• To give you ESA and put you into the work-related activity group (WRAG),
• To give you ESA and put you into the support group, or
• You are fit for work and should not get ESA.

Work-related activity group (WRAG)

• You will have to go to at least one work-focused interview.
• You may be able to take part in the Steps 2 Success programme, which provides you with support to return to employment.

Find out more about the Steps 2 Success Programme.

• You will get less money than if you are in the support group.
• You can only get contribution-based ESA for one year.

Support Group

• You do not have to go to interviews.
• If you get contribution-based ESA, you can get it as long as you meet the criteria for the support group.
• You will get an additional amount of money on top of the basic ESA rate from the 14^th week of your claim. If it takes the SSA longer than this to decide which group to put you in, they will backdate the money.