Denied Cont ESA because of insufficient NI?

Brighty

Hi all
My wife's SSP has finished so we applied for Contribution based ESA (I work full time, so no income based ESA).
Got a letter from the job centre on Sat to say due to insufficient NI in 12-13 & 13-14 tax years, she's not getting any ESA.
How do we check if this is correct? What is 'sufficient'?
Not got her P60's, but from her first ever tax return 13-14, her earnings from her job were £4272, previous year would be similar, however, a large portion of that would have been SMP (from July or Aug that year).
Is the SMP the problem you think? Does it not count towards NI contributions?
If it is, can we re-apply next month so they use 13-14 & 14-15 tax years instead?
Annoyed that because of this she is entitled to absolutely nothing at all


Thanks


Brighty

Podge52

I'm not certain but on those figures I don't think she would be paying any NI contributions at all. If she was self employed and paid her own stamp that might be a different thing. I'm sure somebody with more knowledge will post soon.

ceecee1

The lower earnings limit (the amount to be earned before paying NI) for the 13/14 tax year was £109 per week.
That over the 52 week year equates to £5668, which would be the amount required to earn before qualifying for benefit.

They would not look at the later 2 tax years until 2016 as the benefit year is different to the tax year.

Brighty

Thanks for that, looks like a lost cause then, somehow we have to survive with her getting nothing, I see a large amount of debt looming. Think i'll quit my job, go on JSA, then she'll get income ESA and we can rake in loads of child tax credits that we currently get zero of, we'll be better off, have time to pop out a few more kids then too. Ho hum.
Don't suppose it's possible to make voluntary contributions to make up the shortfall? Of course it won't be, but worth an ask.


Brighty

Brighty

Oh, one other thing. If she's not entitled to any payment, can we just forget the whole thing and throw away the medical forms etc and not send them the sick notes, or do we have to go through the whole process, forms, sick notes, medical, placed in a group, work focused interviews, blah blah blah, just so her NI stamp is kept up to date?


Brighty

Mattygroves2

Brighty wrote: »

Don't suppose it's possible to make voluntary contributions to make up the shortfall? Of course it won't be, but worth an ask.

Voluntary contributions are possible and advisable to ensure entitlement to pension when she reaches retirement age. So when she is back in work if she isn't paying any (it should be clear on her payslips) you should think about her making the voluntary ones.

I doubt they can be used retrospectively though.

Morlock

Brighty wrote: »

Think i'll quit my job, go on JSA, then she'll get income ESA and we can rake in loads of child tax credits that we currently get zero of, we'll be better off, have time to pop out a few more kids then too. Ho hum

It's attitudes like that which made the Tories introduce regulations that prevent your wife from qualifying. You've been hoisted by your own petard.

Also, if you do not qualify for Child Tax Credits when working full-time, there is no way on earth you'll be better off when unemployed.

Brighty

Morlock wrote: »

It's attitudes like that which made the Tories introduce regulations that prevent your wife from qualifying. You've been hoisted by your own petard.

Also, if you do not qualify for Child Tax Credits when working full-time, there is no way on earth you'll be better off when unemployed.

My comments were of course tongue in annoyed cheek. I'm just pee'd off that my wife who's worked hard full time on near minimum wage as a carer all her life, has a couple of light years due to having kids, is now entitled to nothing when she's off sick. Any other year and she'd get it. I know that's the rules and we have to live with it, but still doesn't stop you getting annoyed.

bloolagoon

She gets NI conts if receiving child benefit. If you aren't claiming because of income you can inform them and they will credit her.

TELLIT01

Morlock wrote: »

It's attitudes like that which made the Tories introduce regulations that prevent your wife from qualifying. You've been hoisted by your own petard.

Tongue in cheek comments are clearly lost on some people.

dippy3103

Could be worth applying for CTC on your new income.