ESA1 Form

IT2Go4IT wrote:

I submitted my ESA1 form and associated medical documentation.

Received a letter today stating that I cannot be paid ESA as I have not paid enough National Insurance contributions for tax years ending 5 April 2009 and 5 April 2010.

During these two tax years (and prior)I was on Incapacity Benefit and for a short period of time doing Supported Permitted Work.

Are the appropriate class of NI contributions not paid for you while on IB?

Thank you.

Hi,

The NI requirements for Contributory ESA are as stated here:

www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/your_money/...urance_contributions

What you have not got to mix up is that to satisfy part one of the requirements one must make NI Contributions by paying NI from paid work.

The second requirement can be covered by NI Credits which are made when one claims such as IB.

Both requirements, during the relevant years have to be satisfied to claim.

Pete

Apologies but I am rather confused by the wording of the link you kindly provided.

I have phoned the National Insurance helpline and they have confirmed that for tax years ending April 2009 and April 2010, 52 Class 1 NI contributions were paid in each year on my behalf as a result of being on IB.

Do Class 1 contributions paid for you due to being on IB not have the same value as Class 1 contributions gained through paid employment?

IT2Go4IT wrote:

Apologies but I am rather confused by the wording of the link you kindly provided.

I have phoned the National Insurance helpline and they have confirmed that for tax years ending April 2009 and April 2010, 52 Class 1 NI contributions were paid in each year on my behalf as a result of being on IB.

Do Class 1 contributions paid for you due to being on IB not have the same value as Class 1 contributions gained through paid employment?

Hi IT

I have looked at the link provided by Pete, whilst I understand NI contributions can be a confusing subject, I feel we have gone as far as we can in explaining it to you, especially as you say you have spoken to the NI helpline already.

We are unable to give specific advice , only general advice. As the link provided mentions, advice can be obtained from such as a Citizens Advice Bureau, may I suggest that you contact one, or other Advice Centre where you live.

Kind regards

Michael

I fully respect that you are unable to give specific advice.

As per what Pete stated above I have now had it confirmed that I am not eligible for contribution based ESA as the class 1 NI credits although paid in full for the relevant years were paid by the DWP as I was on Incapacity Benefit for the whole of this time. They have to be NI credits paid through actual working income.

I came off IB in an attempt to battle against my complex mental health condition and do some part time work. I failed and my health deteriorated further and now I can't claim ESA. It seems it does not pay to attempt to fight against an illness and work.

I wonder if people who are being moved automatically from IB to ESA (without a gap)are also encountering the the same issue as me and suddenly having their benefit stopped because of the NI contributions.

Gordon wrote:

T2Go4IT

Have you confirmed that you are not eligible to receive Income Related ESA?

There is an associated means test for assets (£16,000), income (about £105/w) and a partner working (less than 24h/w).

For those reading your previous post in isolation, anyone being transferred from IB to ESA will not be required to meet the NI requirements for ESA, as this will be assumned to have been met from your IB claim.

Gordon

I don't qualify for the income related ESA due to savings.

Had my claim for ESA been granted my Working Tax Credit would have continued for the remainder of the tax year but that will now also stop.

I've done myself no favours by trying a return to work and ended up making myself more ill. Thank goodness I do have DLA which will become my only income.

I don't even know if it is worth continuing with the claim just to get my NI credits paid. The task of filling out the ESA50 form just seems too daunting when it wont't actually get me the benefit.