New Style ESA Claim - gone wrong ?

[Deleted User]

I filled in the ESA claims form on-line, 3 weeks ago and am still waiting for confirmation of my entitlement and have not yet even supplied a fit note

I have now found that, according to my on-line HMRC tax account - I am due to receive £4325 pa in ESA payments - although no payment has yet been received

This is weird - since as far as I was aware - I was not entitled to any ESA and I was only claiming NI credits only

And I filled in the first step of the application for ESA, 3 weeks ago and have not even been contacted to fill in an ESA50 yet - so why is the money showing in my HMRC accounts ?

This is weird

Any advice please....

poppy12345

I know post from DWP can take a week sometimes to get to us. I received my PIP review decision letter yesterday that was dated 28th June.

A friend of mine also applied for NsESA just over 3 weeks ago and hasn't yet received a letter regarding entitlement but they do have an appointment at their local JCP on 15th July.

Or you can ring them on 0800 328 564.

poppy12345

Calcotti also answered part of your question on another thread here. https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6280183/new-style-esa-national-insurance-contributions-tests#latest

[Deleted User]

I have received an update from my "work coach"

"Thank you for accepting the commitment. Please be aware that you do not have to agree if you do not wish to. In order for the claim to be processed and if any benefit or national insurance credits are awarded then a commitment does need to be agreed. I will advise the relevant department and they will contact you once they have processed the claim.

My role is to draw up and agree a commitment with you and provide the benefit centre with the necessary evidence in order for the claim to be processed. I understand that you believe that your claim will result in your credits being maintained only, however I am not in a position to make that assumption hence the process is the same regardless. This is why the rate for any sanction is contained within the commitment.

We will expect you to engage with a work coach at the jobcentre. We will of course arrange a suitable way to do this and the frequency will also be agreed. Our role is to offer any possible support to you and we would of course hope that you may be in a position to consider working in the future."

But - I will not be engaging with a work coach - since my ill health pension does not allow me to work again - or I will lose my pension

I am 57 years old and incapable of working - but simply trying to ensure that when I claim my state pension - I wiill be able to survive, financially

Robbie64

You have two choices: engage with your work coach to get your NI credits or close your claim and not get any credits.

Engaging with your work coach does not mean having to take work, paid or voluntary. It simply means drawing up a claimant committment which helps both you and your work coach. If you have ongoing health problems which severely limit your ability to work then this can be discussed at the meeting, which can be done over the phone if the work coach agrees to it.

You are 10 years away from qualifying for your State Pension. If you want to qualify for benefits (even if it is just NI credits) then you will have to engage with the DWP over the next few years. The alternative is to make voluntary contributions to help protect your State Pension. It is £15.40 per week.

https://www.gov.uk/voluntary-national-insurance-contributions/rates

Alice_Holt

As you seem to be finding ESA so problematic, why not give up on your NI contributions being funded by the taxpayer, and pay Class 3 NI contributions yourself?

https://www.gov.uk/pay-voluntary-class-3-national-insurance


Note that "the law explicitly states that ESA work-related activities must not require claimants to 'apply for a job or undertake work, whether as an employee or otherwise'."

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/employment-and-support-allowance/while-youre-getting-esa/about-the-esa-groups/


Have you checked out your SP forecast / possible eligibility for Pension Credit ?

[Deleted User]

Alice_Holt said:

As you seem to be finding ESA so problematic, why not give up on your NI contributions being funded by the taxpayer, and pay Class 3 NI contributions yourself?

https://www.gov.uk/pay-voluntary-class-3-national-insurance


Note that "the law explicitly states that ESA work-related activities must not require claimants to 'apply for a job or undertake work, whether as an employee or otherwise'."

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/employment-and-support-allowance/while-youre-getting-esa/about-the-esa-groups/


Have you checked out your SP forecast / possible eligibility for Pension Credit ?

I have checked my forcast pension - that is how I know that I am 9 years short !

Isnt pension credit only applicable for pensioners ?
I am 57

And, who in their right mind would spend over £7,000 on something available for free ?

Robbie64

^

if you mean NI credits then they aren't free in that they are paid with, depending on the benefit, certain obligations. However due to your health those obligations may, and probably will be, very minimal.

pebbles88

Deleted_User said:

Alice_Holt said:

As you seem to be finding ESA so problematic, why not give up on your NI contributions being funded by the taxpayer, and pay Class 3 NI contributions yourself?

https://www.gov.uk/pay-voluntary-class-3-national-insurance


Note that "the law explicitly states that ESA work-related activities must not require claimants to 'apply for a job or undertake work, whether as an employee or otherwise'."

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/employment-and-support-allowance/while-youre-getting-esa/about-the-esa-groups/


Have you checked out your SP forecast / possible eligibility for Pension Credit ?

I have checked my forcast pension - that is how I know that I am 9 years short !

Isnt pension credit only applicable for pensioners ?
I am 57

And, who in their right mind would spend over £7,000 on something available for free ?

Unfortunately as you’ve been advised, you’ll still have to follow the ESA process if you want the NI credits for ‘free’ - Alice was just saying there’s another way if you don’t want to follow the process. 

tomtom256

It's quite simple really, jump through the hoops you have to jump through to get the benefit or don't claim it.

The process and requirements for claiming have been explained to you, but you don't appear to want to listen.

poppy12345

You’ve been advised about the whole process several times across different threads. You can either agree to the commitments and receive NI credits or don’t agree to them and not receive the credits.