ESA and backdating NI credits

Hi can anyone help with this one please?
I have a client who left work due to illness and was living off savings for a couple of months before applying for JSA (C).

He wants to to request NI credits for the period where he had no employment or benefits. 

I’m sure he’s entitled to class 1 credits for any week where he WOULD have had limited capability for work had he claimed ESA at the time?  He has medical certificates from his GP for the period in question but did not claim as he had the savings and his prognosis was unclear.

Does anyone know how to go about claiming these NI credits?  I think that he has until the end of the tax year?

DWP don’t know the answer and have refused to backdate NI credits as part of the JSA claim - does anybody know how to proceed with this,

Any help gratefully received!!

Thanks

Give them sick notes and a sternly worded letter discussing the application of regulation 8B of the Social Security (Credits) Regs 1975

edit… linky

Thanks very much for this - it’ll be a great help.

Should this letter go tot the same part of DWP dealing with JSA claim?

CHAI Advice - 22 December 2015 09:43 AM

Thanks very much for this - it’ll be a great help.

Should this letter go tot the same part of DWP dealing with JSA claim?

knowing the silos they work in I’d send it to ESA