Incapacity benefit

alex_g_2

can anybody help me? i have been off work with depression and anxiety since 19/12/05.have suffered with this for a number of years.I last received SSP from work on 28/7/06 £212.84 for the month.I have received nothing else so i assume that they have stopped paying SSP. Work have never been in contact and i don't feel up to contacting them.Do i need to contact DSS to see about claiming IB and IS if so can i do this on line?
My Dr last sick note was 9/5/06 for 6mths.
I do not know when i will be fit for work i don't even know if i want to return to the current job.

seven-day-weekend

I think you need to apply for Incapacity Benefit, if you've been working and paying NI contributions you should be entitled to it.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/Diol1/DoItOnline/DoItOnlineArticles/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4017626&chk=B7Fofn

hjb123

Surely you should be keeping in regular contact with your employer as to when you may be back or ho9w long you are signed off for. It sounds like your SSP will have finished now and you will have to claim IB through the jobcentre.

You should try contacting the Benefit Enquiry Line on 0800 882200 and ask for their advice or call into your local Citizens Advice Bureau. Have you had a look at https://www.direct.gov.uk they have some quite good information about the various benefits. http://www.direct.gov.uk/Bfsl1/BenefitsAndFinancialSupport/BenefitsAndFinancialSupportArticles/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=10018913&chk=UxOPI3 is a factsheet about Incapacity Benefit.

alex_g_2

Thank ypu for your replies i have not felt up to keeping in contact with my employer i cannot cope with phone call s etc.

Fran

alex_g wrote:

Thank ypu for your replies i have not felt up to keeping in contact with my employer i cannot cope with phone call s etc.

DWP Info re claiming Incapacity Benefit. You can find an address through the site or in your phone book, though phoning would be easier. They say on the site to claim now or you could lose benefit.

doelani

alex_g wrote:

Thank ypu for your replies i have not felt up to keeping in contact with my employer i cannot cope with phone call s etc.

I too was of since december with teh same problem and could not contact my employer. when your SSP finishes they need to send you a SSP1 so your change over to IB is smooth. If they have not done this you can do 2 things.

1. Write to them requesting this form explaining that due to your illness you wnat to correspond by writing only . (this is what I did )

2. Go ahead and apply for your IB explaining taht you have not recieved
SSP1 and IB will contact your employer. This will take a lot longer though and you could be without money for a while.

I got my SSP1 after writing for it and my IB was sorted withing 4 days. YOu will need another sick line to cover you from the date your SSP finishes and your doctor should issie a duplicate if you ask.

Good luck

alex_g_2

Thank all I have asked my mum and she has said she will phone my works payroll so hopefully wil get somewhere.If not i will write.

Will let you know how i get on.

hjb123

Do you still live at home or do your family live nearby? Either way its great to hear that you have support from your family. I remember when I was in a similar position to you, though I was off work with ME/CFS and eventually ended up leaving, I guess it was by mutual consent really. I didnt like ringing up my work - by boss was a right piece of work, when I eventually left and started claiming Incapacity it was like a weight off my mind.

Good Luck

MIRRY_2

hi alex,

I have been suffering the same for the past 4.5 years but have never applied for IB,
I will be interested to see how you get on and if you want to chat you can Pm me.

good luck

alex_g_2

I live with my mum now as we lost my father last year suddenly.As i say i dont know if i will go back i have had no contact with them since january and with the way you feel with depression you are not always up to coping with phone calls or contact with anyone.I will have to see but hopefully once IB sorted least be one thing off my mind.

hjb123

Yeah I can understand totally where you are coming from with that. Would it perhaps be easier for you to sever contact with the employer - let them do it then you get notice pay - depending on your contract. It was such a relief in a way when my boss said they couldnt keep the job open any longer and if I didnt accept the alternative job which they offered - which would have started within the next month. They terminated my contract and I got a months notice pay (full pay) even though I had been on SSP for a while too.