Contact Jobcentre Plus

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Existing benefit claims

Call the appropriate number for your benefit to:

  • discuss a claim you’ve made
  • tell the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) about a change in your circumstances, for example if you start working or your income changes
  • ask to get communications in an alternative format, such as braille, large print or audio CD

You’ll need your National Insurance number when you call any of these numbers.

Check Christmas and New Year opening times.

Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Income Support, Incapacity Benefit or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Telephone: 0800 169 0310
Textphone: 0800 169 0314
Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 169 0310
British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service if you’re on a computer - find out how to use the service on mobile or tablet
Welsh language: 0800 169 0207
Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm
Find out about call charges

If you’re in Northern Ireland

For JSA and Income Support, contact your Jobs and Benefits office. For ESA, contact the ESA Centre.

Universal Credit

You can contact Jobcentre Plus by signing in to your online account - you’ll get a reply Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.

If you cannot use your Universal Credit account, call the Universal Credit helpline.

Social Fund

Telephone: 0800 169 0140
Textphone: 0800 169 0286
Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 169 0140
British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service if you’re on a computer - find out how to use the service on mobile or tablet
Monday to Friday, 10am to 3pm
Welsh language: 0800 169 0240
Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm
Find out about call charges

Maternity Allowance

Telephone: 0800 169 0283
Textphone: 0800 169 0286
Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 169 0283
British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service if you’re on a computer - find out how to use the service on mobile or tablet
Monday to Friday, 10am to 3pm
Welsh language: 0800 169 0296
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Find out about call charges

Bereavement benefits

Telephone: 0800 151 2012
Textphone: 0800 169 0314
Welsh language: 0800 731 0453
Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 151 2012 British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service if you’re on a computer - find out how to use the service on mobile or tablet
Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm
Find out about call charges

View a printable version of the whole guide

Part of How to claim New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA): step by step

  1. Step 1 Check if you're eligible

    1. Check if you're eligible for ESA

    You might also be eligible for Universal Credit.

    1. Find out about Universal Credit

  2. and Start your claim

    1. Find out how to start your claim

  3. Step 2 Attend the appointment with your work coach

    You'll agree what actions you need to take to get payments. This is called a 'Claimant Commitment'.

  4. Step 3 Get your first payment

    You’ll get a letter telling you if you’ll get New Style ESA and how much.

    1. How much you're paid

  5. and Give updates about your health and circumstances

    To keep getting New Style ESA you must send fit notes regularly and report any change in your circumstances.

    1. Send a fit note
    2. Report any change in your circumstances

  6. Step 4 Fill in and send the ESA50 form

    You'll get form ESA50 in the post within 4 weeks of your first payment. Return it within 28 days.

    1. Get help filling in ESA50 form

  7. Step 5 Attend a Work Capability Assessment

    You may need to go for a Work Capability Assessment. If you do, you'll get a letter telling you where to go and when.

    1. Prepare for your Work Capability Assessment

  8. Step 6 Get a decision about how much you'll get

    You'll get a letter with a decision. It will also tell you if you'll need to be assessed again.

    1. How much you can get
    2. Find out how to challenge the decision

    To keep getting the right amount you'll need to report any change in your circumstances.

    1. Report a change of circumstances

  9. Step 7 Check if your payments will stop or if you'll be reassessed

    You'll be told if your payments will stop and when.

    1. You are currently viewing: Get support from Jobcentre Plus when your payments stop

    If you'll need to be assessed again, you'll be sent an ESA50 form. This is normally within 3 years.

Also part of