Ok to cut a long story short (even though this wont be) i was diagnosed with a rare illness when I was 14 (now 25) I have been unable to work although I have tried on and off because really I would love to be able to be well enough. My husband works, extremely hard but doesn't earn a great deal and now we have three kids things are tight. After having my second child I claimed ESA which I was contribution based but after my interview with ATOS they decided I wasn't eligible (same story for lots I know) I decided to appeal but it has taken a long time to happen and I finally have my date of 11th May - almost a year later. All the time a whole year has passed and I never knew I could still receive the benefit whilst I was waiting for appeal and the only reason I wasn't getting it was because my medical certificate ran out. When suddenly a sum of money appeared in my account. When I enquired they said that it was because they realised my benefit wasn't being paid but I needed a certificate for the remainder up until the date of my tribunal for it to continue which I got from my doctor. I received a tiny portion of the money I was owed which led to another phone call. All the time I am preparing for my tribunal which in itself has cost £60 already in doctors letters supporting my claim.
When I spoke to them again they said I needed to fill in another claim form for a period of time my husband wasn't living at home due to a break down in our marriage (by this time he was back home and we were living as married again) so I filled it it anyway for the period of time he wasn't here presuming for that period they would give me income related ESA and I would then be out back on CB ESA from 28th Novemeber which is when he returned.
3 weeks later I still hadn't heard so today I called them up to see what was going on only to find out that my contributions ran out in August 2012 which is when they money was paid up until. I was now being assessed for IR ESA which my husband earns slightly too much to get.
So my questions are a) what happens next? Surely there is no point going to the tribunal knowing I am not entitled to any money if my contributions have run out.
B) how do NI contributions work? I have been on a series of benefits over time because I am too unwell to work and have been since before working age. If there is a gap will I again be entitled to benefit from when I was receiving benefits that NI contributions get credited for. When the gap finishes so to speak.
C) Do national insurance credits even count towards benefit or is it just pension.
D) is there a way I can top up my contributions?
I was also self employed for a period of time when I tried to set up my own business so I could work from home at my own pace but I never paid Ni contributions because I didn't earn anything, is there some way I could back date them and pay he, if this is the period missing?
What can I do?
I am devestated, basically because I have spent so much time and emotional power on my tribunal as well as money I don't have and I now feel I am helpless and there is no point me going. I feel so bad for my husband who works so hard even thou he suffers from OCD and me getting this benefit meant he would be able to do less over time in a job he hates. And also because we have spent the money we thought we were owed three times over in our heads paying off debts and having a little bit more financial stability.
I just don't know where to go forward and wondered what you all thought?
TIA :(
When I spoke to them again they said I needed to fill in another claim form for a period of time my husband wasn't living at home due to a break down in our marriage (by this time he was back home and we were living as married again) so I filled it it anyway for the period of time he wasn't here presuming for that period they would give me income related ESA and I would then be out back on CB ESA from 28th Novemeber which is when he returned.
3 weeks later I still hadn't heard so today I called them up to see what was going on only to find out that my contributions ran out in August 2012 which is when they money was paid up until. I was now being assessed for IR ESA which my husband earns slightly too much to get.
So my questions are a) what happens next? Surely there is no point going to the tribunal knowing I am not entitled to any money if my contributions have run out.
B) how do NI contributions work? I have been on a series of benefits over time because I am too unwell to work and have been since before working age. If there is a gap will I again be entitled to benefit from when I was receiving benefits that NI contributions get credited for. When the gap finishes so to speak.
C) Do national insurance credits even count towards benefit or is it just pension.
D) is there a way I can top up my contributions?
I was also self employed for a period of time when I tried to set up my own business so I could work from home at my own pace but I never paid Ni contributions because I didn't earn anything, is there some way I could back date them and pay he, if this is the period missing?
What can I do?
I am devestated, basically because I have spent so much time and emotional power on my tribunal as well as money I don't have and I now feel I am helpless and there is no point me going. I feel so bad for my husband who works so hard even thou he suffers from OCD and me getting this benefit meant he would be able to do less over time in a job he hates. And also because we have spent the money we thought we were owed three times over in our heads paying off debts and having a little bit more financial stability.
I just don't know where to go forward and wondered what you all thought?
TIA :(