Employment and Support Allowance is paid to eligible people who cannot work because of illness or disability.

For further information please contact the Department for Communities or telephone 0800 085 6318 from the North, or 0044800 085 6318 from the South.

Cross-border issues

Living South, Working North

When a cross border worker becomes ill they usually claim illness benefit in the country of last insured employment (e.g. where they paid PRSI or National Insurance). Therefore workers, living South and working North, requiring illness benefit will apply for ESA from Northern Ireland, based on their National Insurance contributions. Any social security payments that are linked to social insurance contributions are usually exportable across the border. PRSI contributions can be combined with National Insurance Contributions to help a person qualify for a contribution-based payment.

Key things to know:

• The cross-border claim for ESA is forwarded to England to be processed by the International Pension Centre in Newcastle.
• ‘New style’ and contribution-based ESA last for 365 days if you’re in the work-related activity group. There’s no time limit if you’re in the support group but your claim is subject to review. Contact ESA and Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection  to check your entitlement.

Please visit www.nidirect.gov.uk – Employment and Support Allowance – eligibility

Moving across the border

If you go to live across the border or elsewhere in Europe you may be entitled to take some of your long term illness benefit with you as long as you continue to fulfil the medical conditions for getting it.

For example: the amount of Employment and Support Allowance you receive  may depend on your income and also on your social insurance contributions (National Insurance or PRSI).  If you move across the border you may continue to receive the contribution-based portion.  In very exceptional circumstances you may also be permitted to receive the income-based portion e.g. if you need medical treatment abroad.  It is very important to check your exact  entitlement before you move from Northern Ireland. 

Please visit www.nidirect.gov.uk – Payment of disability benefits in other European countries

See also

• DirectNI – www.nidirect.gov.uk – Employment and Support Allowance
• Department for Work and Pensions – www.dwp.gov.uk/international – Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Border People – Invalidity Pension in Ireland
• Border People – Social Insurance

Updated:  June 2024

This webpage is for general information purposes only and while we endeavour to keep it up-to-date, errors may occur.  It is very important that you check with the relevant body to ensure the information is current and is applicable to your situation: – North /  South

If you would like to suggest amendments or highlight new information that could be useful to others please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

This webpage is for general information purposes only and while we endeavour to keep it up-to-date, errors may occur. It is very important that you check with the relevant body to ensure the information is current and is applicable to your situation.

If you would like to suggest amendments or highlight new information that could be useful to others please don’t hesitate to get in touch.