Is Carers Credit sufficient NIC credit for an ESA claim?

saver79

Edit to my post below **** I’ve just had a phonecall from an ESA caseworker, confirmed that Class 3 NIC credits are not eligible towards
an ESA claim..but she confirmed that I will get NIC credits (Class 1), whilst I continue to send in sick notes ( for a maximum of 12 months) so I suppose thats a small benefit, to me,as it will improve my State pension.. 

Hi everyone, I posted a couple of months ago, and was so grateful for your comments.. I am now tearing my hair out, with frustration!
I will try hard to get all the facts in the right order, and would, again, be so grateful for your thoughts..
I applied online for ESA, in April this year.. I lost my Mum at the end of March, I was her Carer, and I’ve got to be honest, I have taken her death badly, and thought I’d prepared myself for it, but am reeling from grief, and its actually got worst in the last few weeks, so it was good advice to apply for ESA, cos I genuinely couldnt work, or function properly (yet..but fingers crossed for the future!) 

Ive sent fit-notes online, and about 5weeks ago, they sent me the Form SA 50, capability for work questionnaire. 

I sent it back, and last week rang my local job centre, to ask for a progress report, they confirmed that the form had been logged onto the system, But my claim had been rejected, due to insufficient NIC  credits. I have still not had any think about this in writing. 

The job centre suggested I ring the ESA helpline, for more information, which I did, last Thursday. I was told someone would look at my case and ring me back within three days, this hasn’t happened yet. So I’ve done a bit more research. I think the sticking point is that I have received, for the last 6 tax years, carers credit, which is an NIC credit that goes towards your state pension, and possibly other benefits..

The Gov website confirms that ESA eligibility, means that you must have NIC credits, for the last two or three years, so I qualify on those grounds, But I have now discovered that carers credit is class 3.
 I think that the eligibility criteria for ESA is that the NIC credits must be class must be 1 or 2. So thats The reason my ESA claim has been rejected??
 I have rang the carers credit helpline today, they weren’t too sure either, so I’m hoping that the ESA helpline will ring me back, so that I’ve got a clearer picture. ... does anyone on here have any knowledge of the NIC eligibility rules, would appreciate your advice.
 Many thanks for reading this long screed! 👍🏻

Spoonie_Turtle

Oh, yes that seems to be the case.  If you were claiming carer's credits but NOT Carer's Allowance then your credits will have been class 3.  If you claimed CA then you'd have had class 1 credits.

https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance-credits/eligibility

For ESA, credits do have to be class 1.
https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance/what-national-insurance-is-for

You could look into claiming UC which has a health component equivalent to ESA.  You could also do a credits-only ESA claim which will help for your state pension and possibly future benefits (e.g. if you found a job in maybe a year or so then needed to claim a contributory benefit again after a little while).

I'm sorry for your loss.

saver79

Thanks Spoonie-Turtle, yep as I thought..Class 3 credits not valid .. i cant apply for UC as I have slightly over the lump sum savings limit, thanks I will look into a credits only ESA claim. 👍🏻

Spoonie_Turtle

saver79 said:

Thanks Spoonie-Turtle, yep as I thought..Class 3 credits not valid .. i cant apply for UC as I have slightly over the lump sum savings limit, thanks I will look into a credits only ESA claim. 👍🏻

In that case, you can apply as soon as you dip below the £16000 threshold.  There will be a proportional deduction for savings over £6000 but you are certainly not expected to entirely deplete your savings before claiming help

poppy12345

I note from another thread that you are 62. It maybe worth having a state pension forecast to check how many more years NI contributions you need for your state pension because it will be no point claiming ESA for the NI credits if you already have enough contributions. https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension

I also note from another thread that you receive a small pension so do be aware that if you do make a caim for UC in the future then this pension will reduce your UC entitlement £1 for £1.

saver79

Thanks poppy, yes you are right, I do have a small private pension, and this would affect my UC claim. I have already had my pension forecast this year, and because my carers credit finished this year, I will be about £15 weekly short of the full pension, So I need to consider, next year, making voluntary payments to improve my state pension. The future pension team have told me to ring again next year, to obtain details of how much I need to pay. Thanks for your comments.

calcotti

So credits through ESA would be helpful.

saver79

Yes thanks Calcotti, the ESA credit would be useful 👍🏻