new esa

foxyalf

Because you have been so helpful I need advice again DWP phoned me 3 weeks ago saying he had been asked to look over some case loads and mine being one of them and he said I should reapply for new esa as my last 2 years of contributions have changed and before I was just receiving my national insurance contributions paid and not a regular payment but I still havent heard anything I did receive a text saying we contact you within 2 weeks but Ive heard nothing is there anywhere I can contact or look to see what is happening with my claim?

poppy123456

Have you worked at all in the last 2 tax years 2021/22 and 2022/23?

Jimm_Alumni

Hey @foxyalf, did they help you apply or just tell you that you needed to apply?

foxyalf

They told me to reapply

foxyalf

yes I have only a few hours a week

poppy123456

I would say it’s unlikely you will qualify for New style ESA payments. You won’t qualify based on NI credits alone from ESA.

You can see the criteria here and based on 3 hours per week you would struggle with the first condition. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/employment-and-support-allowance-contribution-based#:~:text=Contributory%20Employment%20and%20Support%20Allowance,style%20Employment%20and%20Support%20Allowance'.

foxyalf

I work 10 or less hours and earn less than £167

poppy123456

Yesterday you said a few hours a week. You'll need to wait for ESA to contact you. It may take quite a few weeks.

In the meantime have you used a benefits calculator to check entitlement to Universal Credit? It's means tested so if you live with a partner you'll need to claim as a couple. If you have capital/savings of more than £16.000 you're excluded from claiming.

foxyalf

sorry yes I thought that was a few hours ?less than 10 thank you for getting back to me I will look

poppy123456

You may still struggle with the first condition mentioned in the link I provided above.

• First contribution condition - in one of the last two complete tax years,you must have paid Class 1 or 2 contributions on relevant earnings at the lower earnings limit for at least 26 weeks. This means you must have worked for at least 26 weeks of the last two complete tax years;

The lower earnings limit for the following tax years was £120 per week in both 2020/21 and 2021/22 and £123 per week in 2022/23. It means you will need to have earned at least that amount per week for 26 weeks over those 2 tax years.

foxyalf

ok thank you so much

giveusaclue

Hi foxyalf,

Can I ask you which year did you originally apply for esa?

and why did they refuse your claim, and only gave you NI credits?

foxyalf

Hi sorry Ive not been very well they said I hadnt a full year so could only pay my contributions

giveusaclue

Hi,

How has your re-applying for ESA gone - are they paying you any money now?

poppy123456

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/901364#Comment_901364

Foxalf, said they didn't have the correct NI contributions in the previous 2 tax years so they're not entitled to any payments. They will continue to receive NI credits.

poppy123456

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/901364#Comment_901364

Thanks for the update. It's what I thought may happen, sadly. Have you used a benefits calculator and checked entitlement to Universal Credit?

It's a means tested benefit so if you live with a partner you'll need to claim as a couple. If you have capital/savings of more than £16,000 you're excluded from claiming.

https://www.entitledto.co.uk/benefits-calculator/

giveusaclue

Oh sorry Poppy I got confused - I thought foxyalf was referring to the 1st time she applied and didn't have a full year (not on the re-applying).

foxyalf

Hi yes the work coach phoned me yesterday and said I will be put in support group and yes will receive it now thank you everyone

poppy123456

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/901510#Comment_901510

Are you saying that you're now receiving payments for ESA and not just NI credits?