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New style ESA and NI contributions.

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I have 37 years plus full NI contributions, I have not worked since 2019 due to ill health, I do receive PIP(enhanced mobility and standard living inc blue badge) and have a small private pension. I tried to claim New Style ESA on the support group to try and receive the disability premium but was refused on the grounds of not enough NI contributions in the years 2018 & 2019. I would have to pay nearly £1,500 to apply again for ESA after 12 weeks (and it wont enhance my pension), also I cant apply for UC as my partner is receiving his pension, I am not entitled to my state pension till I am 67 another 7 years away. What can I do, can anyone help me please?

Comments

  • Rubyroobs
    Rubyroobs Posts: 1,069 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 17 March 2023 at 7:30PM
    I guess you will need to work out whether it is worth paying the £1500 to start receiving ESA payments. If your private pension works out to over £85 a week then that would also affect how much ESA you would receive. You may still have entitlement to Universal credit if you include that you would receive the LCWRA element and carers elements on your claim, but your private pension and partners pensions would be deducted in full. have you had a proper benefit check done with CAB or similar?
  • poppy12345
    poppy12345 Posts: 18,878 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 17 March 2023 at 9:07PM
    NI contributions in years 2018/19 are not considered for a claim for New style ESA now. What they look at are tax years 2020/21 and 2021/22. As you haven't worked in those 2 tax years then they are correct you won't be entitled to any payments for this.

    To be entitled you need either class 1 or class 2 NI contribution and you can't pay class 2 unless you were self employed. This means that paying for those gaps in your NI contributions isn't going to help you here.

    The disability premiums you're talking about are also not payable when claiming New style ESA. They are only payable when claiming Income Related ESA and it's no longer possible to claim this.

    If your partner is state pension age this doesn't mean you can't claim UC. As a mixed aged couple it would be UC that you'll need to claim but their state pension and your pension will be deducted in full. Whether there's any entitlement after the deductions will depend on your joint circumstances. Have you used a benefits calculator to check entitlement? https://www.entitledto.co.uk/benefits-calculator

  • HillStreetBlues
    HillStreetBlues Posts: 5,983 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Third Anniversary Homepage Hero Photogenic
    edited 17 March 2023 at 9:15PM


     Have you used a benefits calculator to check entitlement? LINK DELETED

    Just a heads up when sharing links to places like entitled to
    If it contains a reference such as "cid=044f5f75-a614-4092-812c-3e1d379f7810"  that is personalised and anyone with that link can see what's been entered  so not private
    I've entered Buckingham Palace postcode in the link to show how anyone can use or see it.

    The link to use is
    https://www.entitledto.co.uk/benefits-calculator
    As that will generate a personal private link of it's own, so no one else will be able to see what's been entered

    Let's Be Careful Out There
  • poppy12345
    poppy12345 Posts: 18,878 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper



    Just a heads up when sharing links to places like entitled to
    If it contains a reference such as "cid=044f5f75-a614-4092-812c-3e1d379f7810"  that is personalised and anyone with that link can see what's been entered  so not private
    I've entered Buckingham Palace postcode in the link to show how anyone can use or see it.

    The link to use is
    https://www.entitledto.co.uk/benefits-calculator
    As that will generate a personal private link of it's own, so no one else will be able to see what's been entered


    Thanks. I have no idea why it's come up like that because i haven't entered any personal information into any benefit calculator.

  • Thanks. I have no idea why it's come up like that because i haven't entered any personal information into any benefit calculator.
    NP
    Although no info was added by you ,  if someone does input any new info, that will be seen by anyone clicking on the link.
    So if someone did complete the form via that link,  then anyone who later clicks on the link will see a completed form.
    They should give a warning about this issue, as no sign on the page that this would happen.


    Let's Be Careful Out There
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