ESA pays my NI but I already have enough years in?

Hi,, I would be very grateful if you could let me have your opinions on my situation please.... I recently asked for a NI old age pension estimate and it seems I have 40 years worth of NI stamps which is way in excess of what I need to qualify for full NI old age pension.. I am in receipt of means tested ESA but because of my other ill-health occupational pension this simply pays a NI contribution for me.. I am about to go for another ATOS work capability assessment but for all the stress it causes I think I might as well stop my claim for ESA altogether.I am male, 62yrs old and in receipt of DLA Higher Mobility allowance..I worry that by withdrawing my ESA claim then this may have a detrimental effect on my DLA which took me years to qualify for. I would be grateful for your input or advice Please.. regards Robster

Robster wrote:

Hi,, I would be very grateful if you could let me have your opinions on my situation please.... I recently asked for a NI old age pension estimate and it seems I have 40 years worth of NI stamps which is way in excess of what I need to qualify for full NI old age pension.. I am in receipt of means tested ESA but because of my other ill-health occupational pension this simply pays a NI contribution for me.. I am about to go for another ATOS work capability assessment but for all the stress it causes I think I might as well stop my claim for ESA altogether.I am male, 62yrs old and in receipt of DLA Higher Mobility allowance..I worry that by withdrawing my ESA claim then this may have a detrimental effect on my DLA which took me years to qualify for. I would be grateful for your input or advice Please.. regards Robster

Hi,

Wether or not to continue with your ESA claim is not something we can advise on without knowing a good deal more than can be posted on an internet forum.

You really do need to seek face to face advice from a welfare rights agency/CAB etc both to ensure you will not lose out on any entitlements and also to try to assess how relatively safe your DLA award may be should the DWP look into that award due to withdrawal of another benefit - it may not happen but it could!!.

Pete