ESA & NI credits

[Winter_night]

Hi all,

I can’t get through to HMRC without a 30 min wait and maddening automated questions - arghh 🤪

Does anyone know if those who qualify for ESA but don’t get a payment because of a private pension exceeding the weekly threshold, can still continue to receive NI credits long term? And does the private pension rule apply to income protection insurance too??

Really grateful for any advice…

Cheers

[desquinn Partner Volunteer FMAUK Trustee]

suspect this is something for a benefits person like CAB or one of our benefits team. drop an email to [e-mail]

[Winter_night in reply to desquinn]

Thanks desquinn

[CM1EDSUK]

Yes, your NI credits will continue. Income Protection Insurance is now referred to as Permanent Health Protection, & is treated like a pension. So if your private pension is over £85 a week, 50% of the amount over will be deducted, as I think you know. With your Permanent Health Protection, then anything over £85 a week for this + your private pension will have a similar 50% deduction.

However, if you've paid 50% or more of the insurance premium, then the Permanent Health Protection is disregarded, i.e. not deducted, if you get contribution based ESA.

[Winter_night in reply to CM1EDSUK]

That’s really helpful CM1EDSUK - thank you for your reply. I have paid all of the PHI premiums myself for years but I’m not sure if you mean that for it to be disregarded I must have paid 50% of the monthly premiums or 50% or more of the equivalent of the monthly benefit paid out? Brain fog moment from me - hope the question makes sense… 😁

[CM1EDSUK]

From what I can see, it's 50% or more of the premiums. Please see: assets.publishing.service.g... scrolling down to section 51811 under ''Disregarded payments,'' which says,

''Permanent health insurance

51811 Where the claimant

1. receives a payment under a permanent health insurance scheme and

2. had contributed over 50% of the premium

then the payment is not deducted from ESA(Cont)''

I'm not firing on all cylinders either due to a nasty cold, so you're not alone!

[Winter_night in reply to CM1EDSUK]

That sounds promising, I’m going to read through it all tomorrow when I’m fully awake! Thanks so much again, I appreciate it. I see from your profile you’re a fellow EDSer… I have hEDS as well as fibromyalgia and other comorbidities so I know only too well that a bad cold can absolutely wipe you out for weeks… hope you feel better soon.

[CM1EDSUK]

Thank you for your kind words. I also have hEDS (+ neurological problems)

[Gigiruth]

Check with CAB as Des saysRemember to request ESA to leave the claim open as credits only. If the claim is closed no credits would be considered.

[Winter_night in reply to Gigiruth]

Thank you Gigiruth

[Vontrap]

Hi I’m not sure how it works. I have 49 full years NI and I had been working the last two years but had no P60 to prove it. I thought it was about having enough credits which I have but didn’t get. I have a 6mth sick line which apparently will just go towards my credits. Would need another 6mth line to cover me till I retire. I just kept waiting on the phone till I got through to someone.

[Winter_night in reply to Vontrap]

It makes it so hard to get on top of all of the admin when you can’t speak to a human! Vontrap

[Vontrap in reply to Winter_night]

I know it is however would rather speak to someone than these automated calls as they drive me nuts. 🤪

[Winter_night in reply to Vontrap]

Couldn’t agree more! 😅😩