NI credits

Grace

NI Credits are only paid with income replacement benefits such as ESA and UC (there are others), so your only option is to purchase yourself, Class 3 Ni Credits through the voluntary purchase scheme.

www.gov.uk/pay-voluntary-class-3-national-insurance

Gordon

JJ

Thank you for your post.

My understanding was that this only applied to ESA(CB) claims (see below) but after doing some checking I've found several authoritative posts and a link to the legislation which basically says that providing the claimant still has Limited Capability for Work then they should be entitled to NI Credits, so thank you again for making me check.

However (from above), it is incorrect to say that they have a nil income claim there is no such thing.

First, NI Credits are not paid via the ESA legislation but rather the Social Security (Credits) Regulations so there is no need for there to be an ESA claim for someone to receive NI Credits although they must have had one originally.

Secondly, If a claimant was only eligible for ESA(IR) and they then cease to be eligible, for example; they exceeded the capital limits, then their ESA claim is ended and they will not be able to "restart" their ESA(IR) claim should their capital drop below the limit.

It appears that Grace has been very lucky and the DWP have reinstated her ESA(IR) claim when they should not have, it is possible that your friend will also be lucky but they should not rely on it happening again and would normally be expected to make a new claim for Universal Credit.

Gordon