Can you claim Incapacity benefits when Self Employed (or get any other financial help)???

[HellyBelly]

I'm a childminder and this evening I got back from visiting family and had messages from jellyjelly (childminder friend) on answerphone. She had a fall on Boxing Day and has broken her leg quite badly. She's still in hospital and is probably going to need an op to pin the bone and it will be about 3 months (ish) til she'll be able to look after mindees.

This is going to mean a drop in income for her and her family and she's asked me to pop on here to find out if anyone knows if she's entitled to any help financially.

Does anyone know if you can claim benefits or anything when you are self employed?

Any help would be appreciated, hopefully I'll be able to find something out before I go and visit her tomorrow!

Anyway, hope you had a good Christmas

My dad who is self employed managed to claim Incapacity benenfit when he was in hospital earlier this year.

Hellybelly, Yes you can claim incapacity benefit while self employed. Not sure on amounts though.

yes,I'm self employed & claimed Incapacity Benefit after an operation.It isn't very much,about £55.00 a week,but she may be entitled to other benefits whilst recieving it.

I hope she's up & around soon.

I suspect that access to benefits such as incapacity benefit may be linked to your national insurance contributions. Has she been paying any and, if so, what class?