There are situations when you are not in a position to pay national insurance (NI) contributions but are awarded NI ‘credits’ instead. These only count towards the second contribution condition for ESA (see 19 below ). There are different ways of receiving such credits; these are listed in Box D.2 . If you are awarded a Class 1 credit, you are treated as if you had earnings equal to the lower earnings limit for that week. If you are a married woman and have kept your right to pay reduced-rate NI contributions, you cannot get Class 1 credits (except bereavement credits).