Contribution-based ESA

ginge1003
ginge1003 Online Community Member Posts: 3 Listener
in Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
I am in Northern Ireland and my partner wishes to claim contribution based ESA. I work too much so she cannot claim income related. Well anyway, she has been self employed on and off for the last 4 years. She has paid one year of national insurance contributions. My question is, do the two years of contribtuions that are required to apply have to be the most recent two tax years? She was able to pay NIC's for 2015/16, but was not fully self employed for 2016/17 so wasnt able to pay that year. If she pays NIC's for 2017/2018 would that be enough?

Comments

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 63,185 Championing
    edited April 2018
    Yes to be able to claim CB benefits you must have paid enough national insurance contributions in the previous 2 tax years. Paying for 2017/18 wouldn't help.
  • ginge1003
    ginge1003 Online Community Member Posts: 3 Listener
    That makes it very difficult for her, she would then have to wait until 2018/19 until she could claim ESA. Very frustrating.

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