ESA contributions based & NI contributions.

Daffodil

Don't forget that you need to meet both conditions, so if you only just meet the first (26 weeks) then it does not sound like you will meet the second (52 weeks).

Gordon

Daffodil

Don't worry, I don't think the DWP intend it to be easy to understand and I haven't mentioned any of the exceptions yet

You need to meet both conditions, you cannot qualify by only meeting the six month requirement (First Condition), you also need to meet the two year one (Second Condition) as well and it is this one that is tripping you up.

Although the second Condition can be met using NI Credits rather than NI Conts, as these are only paid to claimants in receipt of a benefit such as ESA or JSA (there are others), you will not have any so your only option is to meet the requirement using your NI Contributions.

So you need two full years of NI Contributions to meet the Second Condition which will automatically mean that you meet the First Condition.

Although there are exceptions to the First Condition there are not for the Second.

Gordon

Daffodil wrote: Hi again Gordon

You say the second condition can be met using NI Credits rather than NI Conts but that I wouldn't have any.

But I do because I was in receipt of ESA leading up to being self-employed and paying Class 2 Conts.

Perhaps I'm getting the relevant tax years wrong regarding the NI Credits.

Again, please correct me if I've misread what was meant.

If you were receiving ESA then you will have go NI Credits every week you were on the benefit, but they still need to be in the correct Tax Years and you still need a total of 52 weeks of Credits or Conts in both years.

Gordon