ESA, National Insurance and Occupational Pension

sunshine wrote: I am currently in the 13 week assessment phase of the ESA process and aged 51. After appealing against a decision not to grant ill health retirement, this has now been overturned.
If my weekly pension will be approximately £250 per week, I have estimated that my ESA will be reduced by £82 per week. Will it be worth still claiming ESA as I may try and get some part time work as well?
What happens to National Insurance payments? Are they paid for me when I am on ESA? What about if I come off ESA what would I need to do regarding National Insurance?

I think it unlikely that you will receive any payments while you are awaiting a Decision on your claim as the amount taken into account from your pension will exceed the ESA Assessment rate, but should you qualify for the WRAG or Support Group then there should some ESA payable.

While you receive ESA you will receive NI Credits which count towards a full State Pension, if you are not receiving ESA then you may be able to purchase NI Credits through Additional Voluntary Contributions, although I am not sure whether there are additional criteria that might prevent this, otherwise you can only receive NI Contributions through paid employment or by purchasing them while doing registered self-employment.

Gordon