ESA & National Insurance Query

[Verbena17]

Hi - asking here for a faster response than citizens advice.

Is ESA means tested? What is ESA in a nutshell?
Is it for someone who cannot work due to their disability?
Can you get ESA as well as PIP?
Is there any scheme at all where a young person (19) can get National Insurance credits while they’re not working?

He doesn’t claim UC or anything currently, as has savings over the threshold.

ESA was split into income related ESA and contributions based ESA. The former was means tested. The latter wasn’t.

Now, new claims for income related ESA cannot be made. It is universal credit. Someone can have the limited capability for work (LCW) or limited capability for work and work related activity (LCWRA) element of UC. UC is mean tested.

Now, new claims for contributions based ESA cannot be made. Instead, it is New Style ESA. It is not means tested, but is based on having paid sufficient NI contributions in the right time period.

If DS hasn’t paid sufficient contributions to receive New Style ESA, he (or his appointee) can make a credits only New Style ESA claim. He won’t receive any money but if eligible he will receive NI credits.

Both New Style ESA and the LCW/LCWRA elements of UC are for those who are unable to work or are limited in the amount of work they can do.

Someone can get ESA/UC as well as PIP.

Thanks so much @BrightYellowTrain . That’s quite complicated then!

So DS is only 19 and never worked and so he won’t be eligible for the new style non means tested version.

So you’re saying he should be able to claim for NI credits without it being means tested AND without having worked?

Or maybe it’s the LCW/LCWRA he needs.

It’s not that complicated.

DS can’t apply for income related ESA or contributions based ESA because no claims for those are not allowed.

DS has savings of over £16k so can’t claim UC. That includes UC’s LCW/LCWRA elements.

DS has not paid sufficient NI contributions, so can’t receive money from New Style ESA.

DS can make a credits only New Style ESA claim. He will not receive any money but if eligible can receive NI credits.

Ohh cool thanks - I read one sentence wrong and misunderstood something.
That’s great - I’ll look into the credits only then.
Thanks for your help 😊

Apologies, in my pp ‘…because no claims for those are not allowed.’ should say ‘…because new claims for those are not allowed.’