Advice needed for Newbie Please

Worried_Woman

Hello,

I am currently employed full time but have been signed off sick after suffering a breakdown in February this year. I am due to return to work on 1st Sept but cannot face returning. Have been suffering from depression and have a very stressful job.
My husband is currently u/e and was receiving cb/jsa which has just stopped.

My question is...If I resign from my job, how long would I have to wait before I could claim some benefits?
As my husband is already u/e would he be able to claim the benefits for our household immediately? ie CTB and HB?

If I was able to get a part time job which would then only pay minimum wage, would I then be able to claim HB and CTB immediately?

I am worried that I will give a months notice and then my rent will be due, will my HB claim likely to be dealt with in time to cover the following months rent?

Sorry for all these questions, have worked since I left school and never claimed any benefits before, just don't understand how they work.

Thank you for any replies.

Worried_Woman

:(:(

If anyone has time to reply to my thread I'd be really grateful.

dmg24

Hi WW,

Your partner could make a joint claim for JSA if you are not working. You would also be entitled to LHA/ HB and CTB. There is a possibility that if you claimed JSA your claim would be sanctioned as you left of your own accord, but if you provide evidence from your GP that your work was making you ill I doubt they would penalise you.

With regard to processing times for HB, you would need to ask your LA. Some areas can process a claim within a week, in others you are looking at up to three months.

Worried_Woman

Thank you so much for replying.

What I was thinking of doing, rather than resign and have no job at all, I would resign and get a part time job earning probably about £60 per week. By doing this, would there still be a delay as to when I could claim HB and CTB or could I claim it from the moment my wage is reduced?

Having been off sick for such a long time I had a visit from my boss yesterday unnanounced and she informed me that despite my Dr having signed me off with depression, she felt I had been misdiagnosed for a number of years? She also stated that having looked at my records, bearing in mind I have worked for this organisation for 20 years, she felt I went off sick when there were school holidays. She told me that this matter is now 'very serious' and she would be speaking to me about her concerns when I returned to work but I MUST go back to work.

This conversation caused me a great amount of anxiety. I have only ever been signed off sick by my Dr and have received Therapy through the mental health service for my depression. I am also diabetic and on occasions have been ill through this, again signed off by my GP. I now feel that I just can't face returning and putting up with her theories about my illness. I had mentally prepared myself to return to work however following this visit I now feel that I can't.

Any advice gratefully received.

dmg24

Yes, you can claim HB as soon as your income drops, there is no waiting period to claim. However, it may take a while for your claim to be processed.

You may be able to take action against your employer for the way they have treated you, but whether this would be very stressful, so perhaps not the best step for your health?

MasterDebator

Hi! Similar position myself. If you resign due to illness, you can claim ESA (Employment and Support Allowance) immediatley but only if you continue to be signed off sick. There are rarely sanctions with this benefit - just to be sure, please call the Benefits Enquiry Line on 0800 882 200 to make sure. They're very helpful. You'll also be able to claim HB and CTB too. Good luck!

mitch161

MasterDebator wrote: »

Hi! Similar position myself. If you resign due to illness, you can claim ESA (Employment and Support Allowance) immediatley but only if you continue to be signed off sick. There are rarely sanctions with this benefit - just to be sure, please call the Benefits Enquiry Line on 0800 882 200 to make sure. They're very helpful. You'll also be able to claim HB and CTB too. Good luck!

Original poster lost wrote in july-august mentioning returning into work.

i myself resigned due to harrassment and health reasons, but because im a tough upper lip british, i did not seek medical guideance or anything. i do not want to be on pills or signed off for months. so i thought i could just sign on to JSA and get another job.

but guess what. although i currently have a constructive dismissal case going on. it has been deemed that i voluntarilly resigned and have been sanctioned for 26weeks.

now i am on a application awaiting for hardship payments

i would not wish this on anyone. to OP try to avoid JSA, if you get sanctioned you have no chance of getting onto other benefits. while signed off if work becomes intolerable request a decrease in hours from work or resign and apply for IS/ESA.

or better yet look for a new job immediately