The two groups: support group vs work-related activity group
After the Work Capability Assessment, a successful ESA claimant is placed in one of two groups. The group is not a label for its own sake: it decides how much you are paid, whether there is a time limit, whether you must attend interviews, and whether the benefit cap applies to you. Getting the group wrong is therefore one of the most consequential outcomes in the whole ESA system, and it is also one of the most commonly challenged.
| Work-related activity group | Support group | |
|---|---|---|
| Who is placed here | You cannot work now, but you may be able to prepare for work in the future, for example by writing a CV or building skills. | You cannot work now and you are not expected to prepare for work in the future, or your condition severely limits what you can do. |
| 2026/27 weekly rate | Up to £95.55 for new claims; up to £133.50 for claims before 3 April 2017. | Up to £145.90. |
| Time limit (New Style ESA) | 365 days. | No time limit. |
| Interviews | Regular interviews with a work coach, and work-related activity agreed in your Claimant Commitment. | No interviews required. You can volunteer to take part in work-related activity if you wish. |
| Benefit cap | The cap may apply. | Exempt from the benefit cap. |
| Sanctions | Payment can be reduced for missing interviews or agreed activity. | No work-related activity requirements, so no equivalent sanction. |
The work-related activity group, in practice
Being in this group means the DWP accepts that you have limited capability for work, but expects that work may be possible later. Your work coach agrees a Claimant Commitment with you: the steps you will take, such as attending interviews, attending a course, or preparing a CV. These steps must be reasonable for your condition. If a step is not reasonable, say so at the appointment and ask for it to be changed, rather than agreeing and then missing it. Missed interviews and missed activity are what trigger sanctions, and the sanctions page explains the reduction and how long it can last.
The 365-day limit is the harshest feature of this group. New Style and contribution-based ESA in the work-related activity group last for 365 days, and then stop, even if your health has not improved. That does not mean you are left with nothing: Universal Credit may be available, and you may be able to reapply for ESA later depending on your National Insurance contributions and whether your health has changed. Planning for day 365 should start well before it arrives, not in the week it happens.
The support group, in practice
The support group is for people whose illness or disability severely limits what they can do, people who are nearing the end of life, and people who meet the specific support-group criteria or the substantial-risk rule, where work-related activity would pose a substantial risk to their health or to someone else's. Support group claimants do not have to attend interviews and do not have a time limit. The extra £50.35 support component is what lifts the rate to £145.90. People on income-related ESA in the support group may also qualify for the enhanced disability premium, and possibly the severe disability premium.
Which group is "better"?
The support group pays more, has no time limit, no interviews and no benefit cap, so in practical terms it is the stronger award. But it is not a prize for a more serious diagnosis: it is a finding about what you can do and what activity is safe for you. Evidence that helps is evidence about daily life: what happens when you try an activity, how long it takes, whether you need help, and what goes wrong afterwards. The assessment page explains how to present that evidence in the questionnaire.