Not able to work ,can I claim benefits

stapeley

I have not paid enough contributions to get employment and support allowance. Having been the prime carer for my daughters ,I stayed at home and looked after them . My circumstances have change and no longer with my partner and she looks after younger child . I have some health problems so can not work . I phoned up what I thought were the right people ,but now I am not sure ! Person on the phone took all my details and said I needed to get a certificate ,which I am in the process of doing . Today I received a letter from Jobcentreplus
Your Claim For Employment And Support Allowance
We cannot pay you because you have not paid ,or credited with. enough National Insurance Contributions .

So what can I do ? I have no source of income,and can not work , what can I do,I,m at a loss .Please can anyone help ?

xylophone

http://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/f31.htm might be of interest- see income related ESA?

stapeley

This is what I thought I was applying for , but they say because I have not made enough contributions I can get it ?

Horseunderwater

If you have no income you can apply for income related ESA, this is different to the one that they have said you do not have enough NI contributions for.
Suggest that you ring the DWP back and ask them to convert your application to an income related one. You will still need the fit note from your GP stating that you are not able to work because of X y Zetc. Keep a copy of that and send in original with application form. You should get a minimum £71/week while your claim is being assessed and in theory your will hopefully get your ATOS medical at or around the 13 weeks period. Could take longer as they are dealing with a lot of appeals and new claims.

stapeley

All you get is a person with a set list of questions ,they are not allowed to help you are they . Now getting another form to fill in .

Horseunderwater

The person who fills out the ESA application with you on the phone should have made it clear on the difference in contributions and income related ESA. When you get the new form to check and sign, make it clear that you want it back dated to original application date due to an error in the process as you told them that you had no other income and wanted to apply for income related ESA, but they ticked the other box for Contributions ESA instead. I would write this out and put it inside the form when you return it.

sammyjammy

This letter will be automatically produced, if anyone makes a claim to ESA they will be automatically assessed to see if they are entitled to ESA based on their contributions, if they are not they will recevie this letter and the claim for Income Based will contniue.

It is confusing but you should just file this letter and await the letter awarding any Income Based ESA you are entitled to. If you are still concerned give them a call to check they are still processing your claim.