ESA Claim denied

trinniquinny

Hi there,

First time poster here. I was hoping for some advice please, I recently applied for ESA and was told that I didnt have enough NI contributions. I made the claim in Dec 2017, and they considered years 14/15 and 15/16. My question is I dont understand why I was told that I don't qualify seeing that I paid 52 weeks of NICs and was credited with 53 weeks credits during the previous 14/15 and 11 weeks NICs from self employment. I am so confused as I did work more than the 26 weeks required for contributions based ESA.

Any ideas?

Thank you

epitome

Since April 2014 have you always been self employed or employed?

Self employed makes it a bit more complicated.

Have you claimed carer's Allowance in the last 2 years?

You said NI credits...Credits from what benefit? how long were you claiming for?

Phone ESA ask them to look for whether SCC or FCC have been satisfied, if they don't know where to look tell them to look in screen 504 there will be a Y or a N next to FCC SCC

Then ask them to look in 511 put 15 in the year and what do they see the total earnings, go back to 511 put 16 in the year what earnings?

Then go to 512 put 15 ...what credits do you have for 15
then put 16 and what credits do you have for 16

They probably won't know how to do any of this so you would have to ask for a call back from ESA who do know how to do this and tell you exactly what is missing.

And then ask if looking 16/17 tax year will make a difference..?

There are various posts on the subject, search terms FCC SCC

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/71654480#Comment_71654480

trinniquinny

Hello epitome

Thanks for getting back to me. I have always been self employed. I have not claimed carers but was on maternity leave during 2014 and was credited with 38 weeks of class ones.

sorry to sound dense but what is FCC and SCC?

I did qualify for carers in 2017