Hi, my name is josy24!

josy24

Hi my name is josy24

Jimm_Scope

Hi @josy24, welcome to the online community How are you doing today?

josy24

Hi there

i need some help with getting new style ESA Iv had letters but very confusing 

josy24

The letter says Your claim for Employment And Support Allowance 
we cannot pay you esa from 10 April 2024
we cannot pay you because you have not paid, or been credited with enough Contributions 
we used the tax years ending 5 April 2022 and 5 April 2023 to assess your claim However I’m still a carer since 2018 is it because they have not taken 2024 into consideration and will they or do I need to point it out Please help I’m not able to be a carer I need to get support for myself that’s why I’m asking for esa contribution I might be wrong maybe my carer ni does not count all advice will be appreciated 

josy24

Hi there Ada

josy24

Jimm_Scope said:

Hi @josy24, welcome to the online community How are you doing today?

josy24

Hi Jimm
thank you for your welcome very appreciated 

Jimm_Scope

Hi @josy24, do you receive any kind other benefits such as carers allowance? 

We have a section on applying for ESA here: ESA | Disability charity Scope UK

You should get National Insurance Credits automatically if you were receiving Carers Allowance. If you were not receiving Carers Allowance but were caring for someone for more than 20 hours a week you have to apply for National Insurance Credits Carer's Credit: How to claim - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

So, just to double check; what benefits, if any, do you currently get? We can then figure out if you should have National Insurance Credits or if something other than ESA is a better option.

josy24

Hi @Jimm_Scope
iv been getting carers allowance since 2018 and full credits even 2024

my other half is on state pension since 2023 plus he gets pip and industrial deafness disability payments we own our house…industrial capital tunnel his hands are very badly damaged 

I get pip and the carers allowance for him we have different disabilities and we are different ages so i wouldn’t be a state pensioner until a further few years I’m a over 60 years person I need more support with my disability I have never ever been on benefits because of my husband working 49 years other than the pip and care allowance the credits would be from the care allowance for ESA credits/my dr has given me a two month sick note I’m in therapy for my mental health been in therapy 2 years finished in January this year now on my own to manage my anxiety and depression it’s a struggle while doing this apply for benefits it’s definitely difficult to do when I would be getting my old age benefits now so it’s the esa contribution or nothing and applying for more support of pip these letters don’t make sense to me but I need to process each bit and be able to talk to ESA about it because getting different letters from 8 days later I appreciate your kind help 

Jimm_Scope

Carers Allowance should give you automatic NI credits, so you should have National Insurance Credits going back to 2018 unless I am missing something?

I'll see what else I can see about this, you may have to call ESA to discuss with them about why they cannot determine that you should have National Insurance credits due to receiving Carers Allowance.

josy24

hi @Jimm_Scope
thats correct Iv rang the tax and yes it’s I do qualify full 52 weeks each year right up to 5 April 2024 

only one thing is I put in for esa from 10 April dr give note from 26 April is this making a issue I really didn’t realise to get it backdated first 7 days I could do for myself but after 16 April to 26 April missing sick note? Need to go dr again 

josy24

Hi all

maybe carers allowance credits on their own might be the issues because Iv not worked in 10 years I would appreciate if someone might post up if they have been able to get esa from having carers allowance credits to get new style esa

poppy123456

You are correct and the NI credits from carers allowance alone isn't enough to be entitled to payments from NsESA. 

The rules around this are very complex. To be entitled to NsESA it's tax years 2021/22 and 2022/23 that count. However, when claiming carers allowance they relax the first contribution condition so instead of looking at those 2 tax years they will look at any other year where you've worked. You would have needed to have worked a year in the past. More details here. They almost always get this wrong because it's so complex. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/employment-and-support-allowance-contribution-based I'd advise you to get some expert advice on this. 

However, NsESA and CA are both treated as overlapping benefits. This means that you can't receive both of the full benefits at the same time. Only the highest paying benefit would be paid and this would be the ESA. See link for overlapping benefits rules. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/overlapping-benefits

ESA is £90.50 and if placed into the Support Group increases to £138.20/week from the 14th week of your claim. See link 

josy24

Hi@poppy123456

much appreciated