National Insurance Whilst getting ESA

Uncertain

I wonder if anybody knows the answer to this question.

I have a part time salaried job (PAYE) plus I normally do some self employed work on other days, so I also pay Self Employed NI by monthly direct debit.

Sadly I have been off sick for 8 months (and not done any self employed work for about 10 months). My employer paid me in full for six months (as per my contract). This presumably included some statutory sick pay which they reclaimed from the gov.

After six months (plus some untaken holiday) I dropped to half pay. As this does not include SSP my employer told me to claim incapacity benefit from Jobcentre Plus. However, this has been replaced by Employment & Support Allowance which I gather is new. I am being paid this at the flat rate of £60.50 per week.

Jobcenter Plus tell me that this is tax free AND that they also credit me National Insurance contributions while I'm getting E&SA.

However, my employers are still stopping NI from my half salary.

Plus I'm still paying the Self Employed NI as well!!

Can this be right?

Thanks