A potential problem that I need help with.

Guapa1

I was involved in an accident at work, absolutely not my fault at all.
When it happened, they promised me that all I need to worry about is getting better and my wages would still be paid as normal. In the time I was off work, I used the money that I would've used for petrol etc and paid off some debts, so have freed up some of my income. My recovery is slow, but going well. I got a letter from the company today telling me as of from September I'm going to be placed in the sickness procedure and will only be getting my sick pay. which is about 40% of what I'm getting now. I'll just be able to cover my mortgage, but not the rest of the bills I have.
I have just had got an appointment for a three week pain management course in September and my counsellor thinks another 3 months is a realistic timeframe.

After the spending the whole day in hysterics, now is the time to get my thinking cap on.
I'm going to phone the solicitor dealing with my claim on Monday to see if I can get an advance.

I'll ring the mortgage company to see if there is any potential deal I could do with them to bring my mortgage payments down to a point I can still pay my bills.

I do a credit union payment at work. I've never touched it even with my debts because I felt slightly uncomfortable having no savings at all. That can cover a month.

Any other suggestions?

neverdespairgirl

Calm down! I know that's easy to say, but you have to be cool about this.

Was the accident at work something the company might be liable for? Are you a union member? Do you know when you will be back?

If you are a union member, contact them first. If not, your household insurance might cover you for legal advice.

Guapa1

Thank you neverdespairgirl (great name btw)

I am a union member, and they are telling me that the company didn't have to pay me at all, and they have more than done their duty of care. They have started a claim for all of us and told me to contact the solicitor on Monday.

My physio and counsellor are telling me to give myself three months more. I really didn't think I was going to be of work this long, and so I'm upset and frustrated anyway. I still can't drive long distances and have a constant pain in back and neck. My movements have got better though, but the pain is still there.
My company have another company to deal with the recovery process and they are paying for my hydrotherapy and counselling, which I am grateful for, however they don't seem to be listening to the experts and keep phoning me to 'suggest' I go back to work too.
For the past two weeks the phonecalls have been making me more stressed, my physio has even said my movements tighter from previous weeks.

Then this letter has completely sent me over the edge.

neverdespairgirl

If you have a solicitor, then talking to him / her tomorrow is the best thing to do. THis is quite a complicated matter, because it involves a mix of employment, health and safety, and personal injury law.

minimike2

Do you have MPPI cover that you can claim on? Sorry if it seems obvious that you dont, but some people forget that they have it.

twinklyspecialkag

Have a look into industrial injuries disablement benefit with the jobcentre...think it may be relevant to you. best of luck.

Guapa1

Thank you for your replies. I spoke to the solicitor and as my company aren't accepting liability as their are two other companies involved there is no-one to get an advance from. I'm making £600 a year too much to be applicable for any benefits and I don't have any mortgage cover.
I've been up thinking of ways to make money now for the past few nights, I've even thought of getting a 'concerned friend' to sell the story to a certain paper, like my colleague has done, but know the possible repercussions on my family would be too much. I was too upset to talk to the mortgage company yesterday, but will have to today and see if there is anything they can do. I've got this months pay and next months pay to really save from and try to make it stretch for the next 3 months when I'll hopefully be well again.

I'm trying not to stress because not sleeping is making me tight again, and the exercises I was finding easy a couple of weeks ago are now getting hard again. This is not helping my recovery at all.

*EDIT* The benefit I was talking about earlier was a different one to the one you mentioned tsk I'll be applying for that form you talked about, they can only say no eh? Thank you so much.

toonfish

who is the mortgage lender. Some, Halifax being one, will allow you to take a payment holiday for up to 6 months

bubblesmoney

are there any no win no fees personal injury lawyers involved with ur occupational injury issues to gte adequate compensation from all companies involed / responsible for workplace injury. if not having a suitably experienced lawyer specialising in personal injuries+employment rights then it might be best to look aroun for one. i think (from what i heard from others who were discussing issues with these firms) that initial discuissions and advice are free from these law firms. but best to check with them. if the claim will be on no win no fee basis then it might be better to go with a big reputed firm as it wont involve costs to u but they might be able to negotiate a better out of court payment for you. have heard that most times these claims are settled out of court rather than in court. but what i heard might not be accurate. u need formal advice from specialised lawyers rather than on a forum. best of luck

luckyfool

You could ask to switch your mortgage onto Interest Only (if it is not already) with a view to switching back to Repayment when you are back at work?

Guapa1

Thank you everyone.My lender is *whispers* Northern Rock and I'm already on interest only. I've done some paperwork and need another £500 on top of my wages to pay my mortgage and bills. This doesn't include food, but I have family, I could survive. I could stand to lose a few pounds anyway! My credit union payments can last me a couple of months, but the waiting list I'm on for the Pain clinic at my local hospital is 3 months.

Bubblesmoney the solicitor is via my trade union. He seems very competent. He has told me that my claim will be long because he doesn't want to settle on a figure and further down the line I can't do my job and am even more out of pocket.