New Style ESA claim moved to UC?

Firstly, thank you so much for the help and information you've given—I really appreciate it; things are becoming a little bit clearer.

If they received IB(Y) without paying National Insurance (NI)—which I believe is exactly what happened, as they've never had a job—then they wouldn’t have qualified for contribution-based benefits, either now or at any time. They couldn’t have built up enough NI contributions, having never worked. Is that correct?

Without those NI contributions, there’s no reason why they should be transferred to New Style ESA, is that right?

I’m wondering if wires have been crossed at the DWP since the IB-to-ESA transfer and whether it has remained that way ever since. I have a feeling this will be a difficult and messy process to get the DWP to understand.

There is a phone interview about New Style ESA with UC on Monday, and I want to help as much as I can. Is there anything we can say to the advisor to clearly and concisely communicate these facts? Surely, there must be a way for them to see that no NI contributions have been made—and especially not for two tax years.

Thanks again for your time.

I've only just learnt that they were on JSA for just over 2 years from leaving school before moving over to Incapacity Benefit, does that explain the NI contributions and being moved to contribution based New Style ESA with UC? Did or does JSA pay NI contributions for you? Would that explain the situation?

Thanks again and so many apologies if I've got terminology mixed up, my brain is fried with acronyms.