Incapacity Benefit???? Anyone know anything about this??

[mumtojandm]

OK. Not been employed since January 2006 but have been receiving child benefit which I was told at the Job Centre would mean that I still make national insurance contributions.
Had 2 back operations at the end of this January and as a result, have been told that I must have complete bed rest for at least 8 weeks. I have a partial 'foot drop' as well (loss of feeling in right foot meaning that I can't pull up my foot) which again, have been told will take around 8 months to heal (if the nerve grows back!).
I qualified in September 2007 as a reflexologist with the intention that once my eldest started school this January, that I would look around for work. Obviously, now can't do that.
Have been told by my sil that I can claim the above even though I haven't been working.
Anyone got any experience of how this works or can explain the procedure to me? Have looked on the official website but looks like a pile of gobbledegook to me.
Thanks.

As long as you were paying Ni contributions for the previous yr, in whatever shape or form, then you can apply for it.
ie you were working, or thru your CB.

What bens have you been on since Jan 2006? I think you need to go to jobcentre and say you want to apply for Incap.

NI contributions made via child benefit only count towards a pension not any other benefits as they are paid at the lowest level.

From what I remember, incapacity is paid when SSP runs out and is based on your NI contributions in the last two years.

Therefore if you havent worked in the last 2 years you probably wont qualify.

Not claiming any benefits at all as I decided to become a full time stay at home mum.

Sorry to be rude - but how old are you? IB for young people is different (as they haven't had the opportunity to work and pay NI).

seasidemama - I'm not that young! I'll be 38 this year but don't tell everyone!!!

Sorry!!