Check your NIC records BEFORE claiming benefits

My brother found out, quite some time after claiming ESA, that he was about £15 short on his self employed Class 2 NIC contributions for the year prior to his claim. It wasn't an issue, at first, as he got ESAIR, but once his partner took on more work hours he received no payment for ESAIR, on the basis of her/their income. He still gets the NI credits for the time on ESA, but no money.

As he's in the support group he could have been entitled to ESACB (without time limit), if only his NIC's were fully up to date before claiming. See here for the qualification rules: www.entitledto.co.uk/help/employment-and...e-contribution-based

He's gutted. He's now NOT getting £108.15 per week, all for the sake of a few missed weeks NIC's.

I think, correct me if I'm wrong, anybody, that if he had addressed his NIC arrears prior to claiming i.e. not been making voluntary payments, but addressing his arrears, then he'd have been OK.

If you might be in a similar situation, I'd suggest that before you claim you check your own records: www.gov.uk/check-national-insurance-record online, or call 0300 200 3500

Recent stats say 15% of workers are self employed, and when you're really ill and incapacitated it'd be easy to miss a small payment for NIC's (more than 2 weeks worth would disallow you).

Once you claim, nothing can be done to address any historical NIC shortfall, for benefits.

You could make voluntary (retrospective) NI contributions, to complete your NIC payment record, for (some years) of your State Pension entitlement, but not benefits.

It can't do any harm to check.
I would, and my brother wishes he had.

DA0 wrote: My brother found out, quite some time after claiming ESA, that he was about £15 short on his self employed Class 2 NIC contributions for the year prior to his claim. It wasn't an issue, at first, as he got ESAIR, but once his partner took on more work hours he received no payment for ESAIR, on the basis of her/their income. He still gets the NI credits for the time on ESA, but no money.

As he's in the support group he could have been entitled to ESACB (without time limit), if only his NIC's were fully up to date before claiming. See here for the qualification rules: www.entitledto.co.uk/help/employment-and...e-contribution-based

He's gutted. He's now NOT getting £108.15 per week, all for the sake of a few missed weeks NIC's.

I think, correct me if I'm wrong, anybody, that if he had addressed his NIC arrears prior to claiming i.e. not been making voluntary payments, but addressing his arrears, then he'd have been OK.

If you might be in a similar situation, I'd suggest that before you claim you check your own records: www.gov.uk/check-national-insurance-record online, or call 0300 200 3500

Recent stats say 15% of workers are self employed, and when you're really ill and incapacitated it'd be easy to miss a small payment for NIC's (more than 2 weeks worth would disallow you).

Once you claim, nothing can be done to address any historical NIC shortfall, for benefits.

You could make voluntary (retrospective) NI contributions, to complete your NIC payment record, for (some years) of your State Pension entitlement, but not benefits.

It can't do any harm to check.
I would, and my brother wishes he had.

Hi DA0,

A sad tale indeed !!!, and one that our members should be aware of.

bro58