It’s the higher rate of ESA, designed for people whose health or disability means they really can’t do any work for the foreseeable future. Imagine your body is a car that’s been towed to the garage with a broken engine, a flat tyre, and the radio stuck on a static channel. The Support Group is the mechanic who says, “Mate, this isn’t going anywhere for a while.”
You get a bit more cash than the basic “Work-Related Activity Group” rate. It’s not enough to buy a yacht, but it might cover an extra takeaway or a surprise heating bill without a full-blown panic. For 2026/25, it’s roughly £138.20 a week for under-25s and £154.70 for over-25s—enough to feel like you’ve upgraded from a damp tent to a very soggy caravan.
How Do You Get In?
Getting into the Support Group is like trying to get a nod of approval from a very grumpy bouncer who’s seen it all. You’ll go through a Work Capability Assessment, which is a fancy way of saying a stranger asks you deeply personal questions while you sit in a plastic chair that smells of disinfectant and despair. You have to prove that your condition is severe enough that you cannot even prepare for work.
Examples include being unable to walk more than fifty metres safely, having a severe mental health crisis that makes leaving the house feel like a polar expedition, or suffering from extreme fatigue that makes a full night’s sleep feel like a myth. Basically, if your daily routine involves negotiating with your own body like it’s a stubborn toddler, you’re in the right ballpark.
PPT - Updates on West Midlands Homelessness and Housing Investments
