Paid enough NIC in the relevant period?

TrixieB

I am shortly going to be applying for ESA as my SSP is about to run out and I know I won't be entitled to the income related side of it as my boyfriend has just moved in with me and works ft so my only hope is ESAIB.
I keep seeing references made to having had to have paid enough contributions over the relevant period, but not what the period is, or how many, or how to work it out? I do realise they will do all this on application but as part of our financial planning and stuff to do with work we really could do with working out wether I have paid enough over the qualifiying period.

My employers have only to pay me SSP for another few weeks then will start their dismissing me thru the capability route which may take some weeks before it's all done - and then we're shortly heading into the Xmas shutdown which will delay it all grrr - and I have almost a years worth of untaken holiday to be paid to me, which would be very useful and if I am not going to be entitled to ESAIB anyway then I may as well resign as soon as my SSP runs out, save me and the company the effort and time - and for them money - of getting me assessed by OT and going through all the hoops they need to to dismiss me.

Thoughts?

Sorry waffled a bit but hope this makes sense, taken me ages to get it down!

ETA** Employment prospects wise: I realise that maybe a sacking for capability may look just as bad as a resignation on a CV when I am well enough to undertake some work - I will probably struggle whatever as a potential employer will just look at the sickness record and go eeep!

McKneff

As far as I am aware, and Im quite happy to be corrected you have to have 2 full years NI contributions for the years 2008/2009 and 2009 and 2010.

Hope that helps, Im sure someone will be along who can clarify.

McKneff

To be honest, i have seen it on here that the general consensus is that you never resign whilst you are on the sick.
Wait for them to dismiss you, like you say, youre accruing holiday pay all the time and your NI contributions are also credited.

So, dont do it.

NASA_2

The contribution conditions can be difficult to explain - really difficult.

Be better if you could tell us how you worked over the period April 08 to April 10 ie. how many hours and for what period.

spiff

love to know the answer to this one too, my wife is in exactly this position and has applied for ESA and been told insufficient NI contribs but what does "full" contributions mean? she wrote asking for a full explaination only to get the same standard response letter. She works p/t and pays NI, she did not work full year 08/09 but did in 09/10 and also 10/11. I understand the year is assessed from Jan rather than the tax year so we plan to apply again after Jan 12 if she is still off sick, surely just because she is a p/t worker (20hrs) she shouldn't be ineligible for ESA contrib?

bobajob_1966

McKneff wrote: »

To be honest, i have seen it on here that the general consensus is that you never resign whilst you are on the sick.
Wait for them to dismiss you, like you say, youre accruing holiday pay all the time and your NI contributions are also credited.

So, dont do it.

I would disagree - IMO it is far better to have resigned than to have been dismissed due to ill health, the latter can leave prospective employers very nervous.

NASA_2

spiff wrote: »

love to know the answer to this one too, my wife is in exactly this position and has applied for ESA and been told insufficient NI contribs but what does "full" contributions mean? she wrote asking for a full explaination only to get the same standard response letter. She works p/t and pays NI, she did not work full year 08/09 but did in 09/10 and also 10/11. I understand the year is assessed from Jan rather than the tax year so we plan to apply again after Jan 12 if she is still off sick, surely just because she is a p/t worker (20hrs) she shouldn't be ineligible for ESA contrib?

That sounds like she should be ok if she makes a claim from the first Sunday in January 2012.

20 hours at minimum wage will be above the lower earnings limit which is what needs to be earned for the contribution to be recorded. She also needs to have worked at least 26 weeks in one of the two tax years. Going by what you say she will have done that twice.

TrixieB

NASA wrote: »

The contribution conditions can be difficult to explain - really difficult.

Be better if you could tell us how you worked over the period April 08 to April 10 ie. how many hours and for what period.

April 08 - April 10 self employed - April 10 - Aug 10 siging on - Aug 10 to present, FT employment...

Will need to check with accountant about what nic's were paid during my self employment won't I?

NASA_2

TrixieB wrote: »

April 08 - April 10 self employed - April 10 - Aug 10 siging on - Aug 10 to present, FT employment...

Will need to check with accountant about what nic's were paid during my self employment won't I?

Yes, woth noting that if they havent all been paid yet, they can still be paid late. There is a six week penalty from receiving benefit when this happens but it is still usually worth it.

Class 2 credits are less than £3. A few weeks benefit more than covers that cost.

TrixieB

Thanks for that will check with them on Monday