no benefit due to not enough NI contributions???

earthbound_misfit

You need to apply for Employment Support Allowance, the new sickness benefit.
Previously, Incapacity benefit was paid to those who had made enough national insurance contributions. If they hadn't, but were on a low/no income, they would instead receive Income Support on the grounds of incapacity for work.
Now, it is all ESA, and people either get contribution-based (if you've paid enough in) or income-based (if you haven't but are on a low income).

The limit a partner can earn, or the limit of any other income you may have, is set very low - my guess is that if you have had enough money to survive this far, you probably won't be entitled to income-based ESA.
However it is worth looking into to make sure.

earthbound_misfit

ps. also DLA is a non-means-tested benefit (so you can get it AND work) that is supposed to cover the extra costs associated with having a disability. This is things like adaptaions/aids, special diets, equipment, taxis if you can't use public transport etc. It's not meant for living costs.

busybee100

Have you still claimed ESA so your contributions are paid?
From memory; There are two rules to fulfil, the eligible years change in January (and they don't tell you when you do become eligble). If you didn't have enough contributions previously you should still claim. I believe credits do count towards a future ESA claim, they used to, it may have changed.

sleepless_saver

busybee100 wrote: »

I believe credits do count towards a future ESA claim, they used to, it may have changed.

Sorry, but they don't. They count towards your state pension and that's about it.

Tally-Ho_2

The NI Contribution requirements to claim ESA/JSA etc (as an example based on a claim made today) are:

NI Contribution Conditions:

[FONT=&quot]You must have paid enough national insurance contributions to qualify for contribution-based ESA . In general, you need to have actually paid 25 x class 1 or 2 contributions in one of the last 3 tax years; and have paid or been credited with 50 x contributions in both the last 2 tax years.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Source: Benefits & Work
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]
The second of these requirements can be satisfied by NI credits, credited to ones NI account when claiming certain benefits, but the first requirement can only be satisfied by actually paying Class 1 or Class 2 NI Contributions from working.

Tally

busybee100

I'm not disputing the previous two posts. They obviously know more than I do. I do have questions though.

If credits do not count towards a future ESA claim, how do people stay on contribution based ESA for years? Or has this rule changed recently along with the 12 month rule?

But then again there will be people in the support group or claiming middle rate care DLA who can continue to claim contribution based ESA how do they fulfil the first rule?

epitome

Tally-Ho wrote: »

The NI Contribution requirements to claim ESA/JSA etc (as an example based on a claim made today) are:

NI Contribution Conditions:

[FONT=&quot]You must have paid enough national insurance contributions to qualify for contribution-based ESA . In general, you need to have actually paid 25 x class 1 or 2 contributions in one of the last 3 tax years; and have paid or been credited with 50 x contributions in both the last 2 tax years.[/FONT]


[FONT=&quot]Source: Benefits & Work
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]
The second of these requirements can be satisfied by NI credits, credited to ones NI account when claiming certain benefits, but the first requirement can only be satisfied by actually paying Class 1 or Class 2 NI Contributions from working.

Tally

So in other words, the OP (at that time) or anyone else who is refused -on grounds of contributions- should ask (whilst remaining on the benefit for NI credits only) for a detailed statement showing how many weeks of class 1 - 2 contributions that you did pay in the qualifying years. Then by means of logical deduction it should become apparent to you when *if* at some point in the future you will become eligible. This may be within the same benefit year or you may have to wait till the next benefit year. (benefit years begin in January basically 2010, 2011, 2012 etc). And they use the previous 2 complete tax years prior to the benefit year that you make your claim....so the above quoted criteria is a little bit misleading. Unless they actualy do go back 3 complete tax years prior to the benefit year. Actually this is so vague it remains unexplained, because I still don't know either what years they use.

As the OP claimed in 2007 they would have used tax years ending April 05 & 06
And there is no way the OP could be eligible now, unless they haven't got a partner/savings. Had the OP applied again later in 2007 or 2008 they might have qualified depending on her NI contributions.

You should also ask the Benefit Centre to tell you if you remain on NI credits at what point if any in the future will you become eligible at least in respect of the NI credits rules.

sleepless_saver

busybee100 wrote: »

I'm not disputing the previous two posts. They obviously know more than I do. I do have questions though.

If credits do not count towards a future ESA claim, how do people stay on contribution based ESA for years? Or has this rule changed recently along with the 12 month rule?

But then again there will be people in the support group or claiming middle rate care DLA who can continue to claim contribution based ESA how do they fulfil the first rule?

The rules about ESA have changed. It used to be that if you had the contributions to get you on to contribution based ESA to start with, you would continue to get it as long as you remained unable to work. Now that is only the case if you are in the support group, and everyone in the WRAG through the contribution route has become subject to the 12 month limit unless they are entitled to get income related ESA. (Which is why there are so many posts on here from people whose CB ESA is suddenly ending on 30 April. )

epitome

busybee100 wrote: »

I'm not disputing the previous two posts. They obviously know more than I do. I do have questions though.

If credits do not count towards a future ESA claim, how do people stay on contribution based ESA for years? Or has this rule changed recently along with the 12 month rule?

But then again there will be people in the support group or claiming middle rate care DLA who can continue to claim contribution based ESA how do they fulfil the first rule?

Because it used to be the case* that once you were on ESA Conts you could stay on till aged 60. You only have to satisfy the rules to get onto it at the time you make your claim.
*This has now changed with ESA Conts WRAG limited to 1 year now as of April 30th 2012, to bring it in line with JSA (which lasts 6 months) However the ESA Conts Support Grp are still allowed unlimited leave to remain.

busybee100

epitome wrote: »

So in other words, the OP (at that time) or anyone else who is refused -on grounds of contributions- should ask (whilst remaining on the benefit for NI credits only) for a detailed statement showing how many weeks of class 1 - 2 contributions that you did pay in the qualifying years. Then by means of logical deduction it should become apparent to you when *if* at some point in the future you will become eligible. This may be within the same benefit year or you may have to wait till the next benefit year. (benefit years begin in January basically 2010, 2011, 2012 etc). And they use the previous 2 complete tax years prior to the benefit year that you make your claim....so the above quoted criteria is a little bit misleading.

This is my understanding of how the eligibility rules work.

epitome wrote: »

You should also ask the Benefit Centre to tell you if you remain on NI credits at what point if any in the future will you become eligible at least in respect of the NI credits rules.

I think it was the first Monday in January the eligible years changed.