NI contributions/credits for ESA

calcotti

Spoonie_Turtle said:

Great, thanks. I'm certain all my years are full (credits) but I'll double-check. 17-18 I'll definitely have been fine for credits from earnings.

From what you have posted the bit that may be in doubt is from September 2018 to April 2019 if you were only receiving SSP during that period.

Spoonie_Turtle

calcotti said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

Great, thanks. I'm certain all my years are full (credits) but I'll double-check. 17-18 I'll definitely have been fine for credits from earnings.

From what you have posted the bit that may be in doubt is from September 2018 to April 2019 if you were only receiving SSP during that period.

My record says it's full of credits for both years, so I just wasn't sure if I had enough credits from earning enough (i.e. treated as paid). I can't remember what the source of sick pay was but it didn't drop to half pay until about May or June 2019, so even if part of it was SSP I must have been receiving some money from my employers on top before that.

(The only year with any gaps according to the online check is 2008-9, so irrelevant for ESA anyway.)

Spoonie_Turtle

Just an update in case anyone finds themselves in a similar position (NI credits from earnings but no paid contributions): my claim was successful

Incidentally I can see why ESA letters are confusing - it tells me it's based on my NI record but then refers to the £74 as income-related. Bizarre! (Including a picture for reference, because this is definitely solely New-Style ESA.)



(I had problems with trying to link from a hosting site so I hope this doesn't show up as absolutely huge!)

calcotti

Spoonie_Turtle said:

Just an update in case anyone finds themselves in a similar position (NI credits from earnings but no paid contributions): my claim was successful

Incidentally I can see why ESA letters are confusing - it tells me it's based on my NI record but then refers to the £74 as income-related. Bizarre! (Including a picture for reference, because this is definitely solely New-Style ESA.)



(I had problems with trying to link from a hosting site so I hope this doesn't show up as absolutely huge!)

ESA letters are notoriously confusing. Effectively the letter says you would have an income based entitlement of £74.35 but they will not pay you that because you have a contribution based entitlement of £74.35. This is of course complete nonsense because you have NIL entitlement to income based ESA because new claims for income based ESA cannot be made (unless you were getting a Severe Disability Premium in another benefit already). 
"Curiouser and curiouser" cried Alice!

calcotti

You will now see a deduction of £322.18/month (£74.35 x 52 / 12) on your UC statements.

Not sure if you need to notify UC through your journal that you have been awarded ESA. You would hope they would join it up but I think it would be prudent to post a message (possibly in the payments section).

The general rule for UC is that any change of circumstances is applied from the start of the assessment period in which it occurs. A situation like this is an exception and for the AP in which the ESA starts you should see a proportionate deduction. See paragraph H5203 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/915132/admh5.pdf

I assume you are getting the LCWRA element in your UC. As you move into the ESA Support Group your ESA will increase to £113.55 from the 14th week (and the UC deduction will therefore increase also.)

As a point of interest were you required to provide a FT Note to support your ESA application?

Spoonie_Turtle

calcotti said:

You will now see a deduction of £322.18/month (£74.35 x 52 / 12) on your UC statements.

Not sure if you need to notify UC through your journal that you have been awarded ESA. You would hope they would join it up but I think it would be prudent to post a message (possibly in the payments section).

The general rule for UC is that any change of circumstances is applied from the start of the assessment period in which it occurs. A situation like this is an exception and for the AP in which the ESA starts you should see a proportionate deduction. See paragraph H5203 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/915132/admh5.pdf

I assume you are getting the LCWRA element in your UC. As you move into the ESA Support Group your ESA will increase to £113.55 from the 14th week (and the UC deduction will therefore increase also.)

As a point of interest were you required to provide a FT Note to support your ESA application?

The final page after ESA application said to notify UC so I sent a journal message straight away, which they've acknowledged.

I sent in my LCWRA award letter as proof almost straight away but a few days later received a letter asking for medical evidence (could well have been generated before they received the LCWRA proof, I didn't check the date) so I phoned them up just to check whether I really needed a fit note or not. They then looked on the UC system for confirmation of the WCA and outcome, then updated it on the ESA claim.

Thank you and Alice_Holt again for confirming I could apply! As mentioned it's sort of insurance against any unforeseen changes of circumstance affecting UC so it's a relief to know I've made use of what the NI credits entitled me to before the time ran out
 
[As an aside, that last full year of work was absolutely horrendous for my declining health so in a way it feels like at least it was beneficial for *some*thing ]

calcotti

Spoonie_Turtle said: I sent in my LCWRA award letter as proof almost straight away but a few days later received a letter asking for medical evidence (could well have been generated before they received the LCWRA proof, I didn't check the date) so I phoned them up just to check whether I really needed a fit note or not. They then looked on the UC system for confirmation of the WCA and outcome, then updated it on the ESA claim.

That’s useful to know - thanks for posting back.

sammyjammy

calcotti said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

Just an update in case anyone finds themselves in a similar position (NI credits from earnings but no paid contributions): my claim was successful

Incidentally I can see why ESA letters are confusing - it tells me it's based on my NI record but then refers to the £74 as income-related. Bizarre! (Including a picture for reference, because this is definitely solely New-Style ESA.)



(I had problems with trying to link from a hosting site so I hope this doesn't show up as absolutely huge!)

ESA letters are notoriously confusing. Effectively the letter says you would have an income based entitlement of £74.35 but they will not pay you that because you have a contribution based entitlement of £74.35. This is of course complete nonsense because you have NIL entitlement to income based ESA because new claims for income based ESA cannot be made (unless you were getting a Severe Disability Premium in another benefit already). 
"Curiouser and curiouser" cried Alice!

The cost of changing these computer generated letters for legacy systems is massive (madness!), someone somewhere will have taken a decision that this one wasn't a priority, it'll be on a very big long list.

calcotti

sammyjammy said: The cost of changing these computer generated letters for legacy systems is massive (madness!), someone somewhere will have taken a decision that this one wasn't a priority, it'll be on a very big long list.

And yet it remains the legal responsibility of a claimant to check that their awards are correct - not easy when the award letters are so misleading!