ESA NI Contributions

Hi would be grateful for some advice regarding a previous application for ESA and my NI contributions
I had previously worked for 35 years in 2009 I had to give work up due to illness I was signed off sick by my GP and was claiming CB ESA and was in the support group, in November 2019 I foolishly under no pressure from anyone decided to try and go back into employment ( so I was 10 years in the support group ) I only lasted 15 weeks which was March 2020 and had to give the job up due to my health condition, it was not until September that year I got a sick line from my GP I applied again for ESA with the same medical condition as before, I initially was paid CB ESA benefit and then sent a ESA50 to fill which I returned however after 6 weeks of being paid I received a call from the DWP stating there had been an error on their behalf and they could not continue to pay me as I did not have the NI insurance contributions from the years required when I looked at the 2 years in question I had 52 weeks on both years all of these were obviously credits when I was recieving CB ESA my question to the team and members here is Do one of those years or part of the years contributions have to be earned by being in employment ?? for me to qualify for payment as those 2 years in 2017 & 2018 are complete. I'm still claiming ESA and in the support group but get no payment only NI credits ,Ive had no income for over 3 years as my wife works full time and earns too much to quality for universal credit , I'm currently in the process of apply for PIP apologies if this is a bit long it's my first ever post
Thank you kindly

Thank you for your reply Gordon happy that I didn't appeal the decision then

Hi JBX,

I'm kind of stuck in the same situation as yourself with CBESA - only getting NI credits (even though I worked for over 30 years).
I can't offer you any advice, sorry.
Just wanted to say I know how "rubbish" it feels to only be awarded the credits and not get any actual payment.
Hope your PIP application goes ok.

Hi Olive it was your own post that made me ask the question as you are correct it's a similar situation to yourself
Getting Ni credits is no bonus as I already have the full 35 years contributions to get me the full pension but not for 6 years, I'm hoping the fact that I'm still not fit enough to work and was signed of by my GP indefinitely and still in the support group will help my pip applications it was actually my GP who suggested I apply as I have nothing to lose ,I must admit though this pip form puts your anxiety off the scale sometimes I think to myself is it worth the extra stress, but I feel I deserve it after coming off ESA on my own accord to try and give myself a better life but in the end it backfired on me and I lost the only income I had been getting for 10 years, with the help of the amazing people on here I will fight them all the way ,thanks again for your good luck comment Olive

Hi JBX,

Yes, I also have 35 years full contributions, so the NI credits are pretty useless to me too!
I have just applied for PIP aswell and awaiting the assessment. It is extra stressful but worth doing and I hope it goes well for us both.