I am assessed as unwell every 18 months, mental health problems (I'll
attempt to limit traditional internet abuse by not going into it
further).  I get Income Support and another £20 or so for my illness.
During an unrelated phone enquiry a woman at the DWP said, reading
off
a VDU, that I've been entitled to Incapacity Benefit since 2000.  I'd
been led to believe I couldn't get this, due to no National Insurance
contributions or something like that.  I am sometimes having to
either
fast or eat rubbish towards the end of the fortnight so if I can get
a
little bit more I should.  Also I'd like to know where I'd stand as
far as getting a backdated cheque goes if I do change to this
benefit.  (How far can backdating go?  Somehow getting a few months
or
so seems less unlikely than 8 years of the difference between what
I've received and what I could have received.)  I'm not greedy, I
have
a very basic existence, and some items to cook with better etc would
be good.  I see TV adverts made by the government about one benefit
or
another so I am a bit bugged that I don't seem to have had the right
information.

Thanks for any advice.