Redefining ‘Fit For Work’: Welfare Reform and the Introduction of Employment Support Allowance

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the introduction of Employment Support Allowance (ESA) as the primary sickness benefit in Britain. ESA represents a major shift in the sickness benefits system, and was introduced with the aim of lowering the number of claimants. This chapter draws on the findings from a major study of the introduction of the new system undertaken for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) by the authors while at the Institute for Employment Studies, Brighton, UK.