Petition · past parliament · Department for Work and Pensions

Remove national insurance and means test for ESA for disabled people

Closed 30 signatures

What the petition asks

In order to get Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) you need to have paid enough national insurance credits or meet a means test.
As someone who is chronically ill and disabled I have not been able to work enough hours to meet the national insurance requirement, and do not meet the means test.

The Government should remove the national insurance and means test for claiming ESA for chronically ill or disabled people, who should be able to claim this support when it is needed.

I worked part time even when struggling as I didn't want to rely on benefits, but now I need this support am not entitled to it.

Timeline

25 Sep 2020 Petition opened for signatures
25 Mar 2021 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 30
Status Closed
Department Department for Work and Pensions
Opened 25 Sep 2020
Closed 25 Mar 2021

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.