Help..ESA

Got timed out last night posting!
Just to say thanks for your reply and to say she has a PIP interview this week so we may have another uphill struggle ahead! Hope not as we have so much positive evidence from doctors and consultants.
Will let you all know how that goes when they decide
Thanks

Well she still has a contribution only ESA claim with no benefit payments. This is very confusing as 'they' say these contributions count towards any future ESA claim but she would have to close the existing claim and wait the 3 months and a day before she can try again. Obviously that couldn't happen until the end of this current tax year so as to get the full years contributions to count towards the new claim?
Inland revenue not that helpful as the initial phone call is basically a recorded message with options which is slightly complicated to get to actually talk to a human!
We do have a 'statement' regarding her current status but they don't mention what class of contributions is being paid although the DWP seem to know what they are!
Im wondering if this is one of the many hoops a claimant has to jump through to get what they are entitled too and not just a barrier to discourage a claimant to challenge a decision and therefore maintain the governments hype on the drop in benefit claimants and unemployment figures as she cannot claim job seekers allowance because she is found not fit to work so therefore not entitled to claim.

NI credits, given when on ESa/JSA etc, count only towards the State Retirement Pension, they do not - on their own - entitle the claimant to other contributary benefits in the future.