Missing credits

mommame

Hi there,I have been on incapacity since Feb 2008 and was recently sent a letter to say there is a gap in my credits amounting to £40+.
I was employed for 15 years before this so don't know where the gap comes into it but I was pretty poorly for a long time before I finished and was in and out of work so may have missed a doctors paper at some stage.
My question is does anyone know what happens when this gap will affect my incapacity benefit as my husband is self employed and only just got his first job in six months so we have used up all our disposable income just to keep afloat.
If I will not be entitled to contributions based benefit is it right that I wont get anything if my husband is earning and my credits have run out.
Thanks to all who have worked out the question I am asking lol..

healy

mommame wrote: »

Hi there,I have been on incapacity since Feb 2008 and was recently sent a letter to say there is a gap in my credits amounting to £40+.
I was employed for 15 years before this so don't know where the gap comes into it but I was pretty poorly for a long time before I finished and was in and out of work so may have missed a doctors paper at some stage.
My question is does anyone know what happens when this gap will affect my incapacity benefit as my husband is self employed and only just got his first job in six months so we have used up all our disposable income just to keep afloat.
If I will not be entitled to contributions based benefit is it right that I wont get anything if my husband is earning and my credits have run out.
Thanks to all who have worked out the question I am asking lol..

It will not affect the Incapacity Benefit that you are claiming now.

The letter is so you can pay voluntary contributions so that you have a qualifying year for your State Retirement Pension.

mommame

Thank you that's good to know.
So when would my credits run out so I would have to claim non-contributory benefits.
Sorry I know virtually nothing about how it works but have today been told I am to continue on incapacity as I passed the criteria according to the pca forms I filled in and don't know if I have the right credits etc..

healy

mommame wrote: »

Thank you that's good to know.
So when would my credits run out so I would have to claim non-contributory benefits.
Sorry I know virtually nothing about how it works but have today been told I am to continue on incapacity as I passed the criteria according to the pca forms I filled in and don't know if I have the right credits etc..

If you are on contributions based IB and you continue to be pass the PCA your credits will not run out.

mommame

Oh fantastic,I had it in my head that they would somehow get used up lol.
Thanks Healy for giving up your time to answer my daft questions, you're a star.