Hi there, I'm new to all this as not tried to claim anything before.
I am self-employed and do a tax return each year. Sometimes I earn enough to pay NI and other times I don't.
Anyway, I have awful back pain and have done for about 8 weeks now. Lower back and shooting into my abdomen. My GP surgery isn't great but finally they are listening to me and I have been referred to a spine clinic.
I haven't been able to work for weeks due to the pain and medications and really worried. I finally put in a claim for new style Esa today as my doctor asked if I needed a sick note for work. I said I was self-employed and probably wouldn't be entitled to anything.
So today I put in the claim and then checked the DWP website and it shows last year as not being fully paid on NI as I was just below the threshold. I rang HMRC today and I have paid it.
My questions are:
Will it be possible to claim if I have just paid the missing year for NI contributions 2023 to 2024. The previous year's are fully paid.
Also, I am self-employed and when well, can enough to get by, so will I need to be put into a group to find work as I technically do have work, just not able to sit at my laptop for hours at the moment.
My husband works full time and we are not entitled to UC.
I'm a complete novice at this and wondering if anyone can help. Thank you.