Carer's Credit and ESA

Minnime63 wrote: I am so cross, I just need to vent! I have received carer's allowance for about 7 years to help with looking after my autistic son. Because of this, I have not been able to earn above £100 a week. Last March, I became seriously ill myself and have not worked since. I applied ESA but was told I hadn't paid enough contributions to qualify, so we have really struggled on just my partner's wages. I've only just today found out about Carer's credit! Why didn't ESA tell me when I explained why I wasn't earning more (ie receiving Carer's Allowance)? Grrr!

Relaxation of the first contribution condition

8.—(1) A claimant who satisfies any of the conditions in paragraph (2) is to be taken to satisfy the first contribution condition if—

(a) the claimant paid Class 1 or Class 2 contributions before the relevant benefit week in respect of any one tax year; and

(b) the earnings factor is derived—

(i) from earnings, on which primary Class 1 contributions have been paid or treated as paid, which are not less than that year’s lower earnings limit multiplied by 25; or
(ii) from Class 2 contributions multiplied by 25.2) The conditions referred to in paragraph (1) are that the claimant—

(2) The conditions referred to in paragraph (1) are that the claimant—

(a) was entitled to a carer’s allowance in the last complete tax year immediately preceding the relevant benefit year;