Entitlement to ESA

I have a few questions but will start with the first one here.

UC has said I am not entitled to UC as of May 2022, as I have too many savings, I left my husband in June 2021 but we have not sold the house as I have been under immense pressure not to sell. They are classing my joint ownership of the home as savings (I have little other savings - not over £6000. I have been ill since March 2020. I received sick pay for some of the time and my employment was ended in May 2021 with a settlement.

I was in hospital for 10 months. I attempted to return to work in September 2022, but became ill after 2 weeks. I received 2 months pay, some of it will have been sick pay but I was never given pay slips. In retrospect, I returned before I was well, partly out of pressure to be free of benefits and to be financially independent. UC have requested ALL money to be repaid since June 2021, which is thousands. I also have to pay all council tax support back. I have no way of doing this. I now have nowhere to live as I have no income. I will be effectively homeless in 10 days and will have to return to the marital home. A UC case worker said I may be entitled to ESA. Would I be entitled to New Style ESA as I have not worked properly in the last 3 years. I was in the limited capability to work and work related activity before my claim was closed. They are going to provide me with a letter explaining their decision. They said if I disagree I can do a MR with evidence as to why I disagree. I have support from Citizens Advice and a Care Coordinator.

To say I am anxious is an understatement.

Thank you for your reply. I wondered what action you think I should take?
In April 2020-21 . I was off sick but entitled to sick pay from my employer. My record says I paid around £1300 in NI contributions - NI credits 44 weeks.
April 2021-2022 I lost my job and didn’t work at all but received a settlement for leaving my job. It says paid employment £422 - NI credits 39 weeks which I don’t understand as I didn’t work at all so no sure why NI credits are less.
April 2022- 2023 worked two months no record recorded as yet.

What I find confusing is when I worked 52 weeks part time and paid a small amount of NI is that that would be classed as a full year, but off sick and paying significantly more NI full time counts for nothing.

When someone is employed but off sick and NI is paid out of salary for the majority of the year is this classed as me paying NI or having help in terms of qualifying rules? Thank you