Hi, I am desperately looking for somewhere to turn to try to get advice on ESA benefit. I'll try to keep this as short as poss. Basically I was diagnosed with ME in 2005. I applied the for incapacity benefit and after many months of filling out multiple forms, I was turned down. I was told I didn't have enough National Insurance credits (this was marginal). I have been unable to work since then and have no income at all. I live with a partner now so I am not entitled to income support, although I (stupidly) hadn't realised before that I could have applied for it. I had previously worked all my life and had no knowledge of the welfare state system. I have been writing and phoning my benefits office for 4 years now and have filled out the same forms over and over. Eventualy last year they paid me IB for a couple of months, then they wrote to me to say they'd made a mistake and when they'd checked, I didn't have enough NI conts. I have called the NI office and all my contributions have been paid - they are looking back to 2004/05 where I was short by either one or two contributions!!!!! However, I am wondering now if I make a new application for the new ESA, would they look at this afresh and look at only the last 3 years of NI? Please understand I am so nervous of going to the benefits office to ask them, as I feel they could just refuse this again and that will be the end of it. I am hoping that being able to apply for ESA may be my last chance. Please please can anyone give me any words of wisdom or your own experience of this? I have had my MSP involved and been to a lawyer, I have tried so hard in the past to get this benefit. It's not a massive amount of money (although to me right now it would be). But it feels like they are invalidating my illness by not even acknowledging I am entitled to some sort of financial state assistance. I really welcome any help - thank you :?