Tax credits & being off work sick

rach3

Hi im not sure what to do here, ive been off work sick due to having a operation on my hand on 22nd june and dont recieve any sick pay or anything, all ive had since being off is my working tax and child tax credit...i will be staying on sick until i start my new job in september...should i inform tax credits of this & would it make any differnce to my payments? thanks in advance

DX2

rach why you not getting sick pay? Have you left your employment?

bettyboo33

Best to inform tax credits straight away. Even if you are off sick you are classed as being in remunerative work.

Tax credits payments are based on annual income from April to April, as your income will have gone down as you are not getting paid while off sick, your tax credit payments should increase.

Bear in mind though that when you start your new job in September you will have to tell them again and update them with you new annual income.

rach3

DX2 wrote: »

rach why you not getting sick pay? Have you left your employment?

my company dont pay sick pay and i only work 16 hours and dont earn enough to claim ssp, i havent left my job yet as im still on sick after my hand op but have since got a new job which starts in sept...i will give tax credits a ring in the morning and explain. thanks!

MrsManda

rach3 wrote: »

my company dont pay sick pay and i only work 16 hours and dont earn enough to claim ssp, i havent left my job yet as im still on sick after my hand op but have since got a new job which starts in sept...i will give tax credits a ring in the morning and explain. thanks!

If you are not eligible for SSP have you applied for Employment Support Allowance?

rach3

yes i applies for esa and was told i didnt qualify as th etax credits i get is enough to live on, yet they still wanted me to fill in medical questionaires and send in sick note, which i didnt as i werent going to recieve any payments anyway!

rach3

i mean applied!

karenx

Looks like you shouldnt be getting the WTC then if you arent getting a sickness benefit.

DX2

karenx wrote: »

Looks like you shouldnt be getting the WTC then if you arent getting a sickness benefit.

That's exactly why I was trying to find out why she wasn't getting an sick pay

DX2

rach3 wrote: »

yes i applies for esa and was told i didnt qualify as th etax credits i get is enough to live on, yet they still wanted me to fill in medical questionaires and send in sick note, which i didnt as i werent going to recieve any payments anyway!

What happens if you can't get SSP or it ends?

If you cannot get SSP or SSP has ended your employer must fill in form SSP1 and give this to you. On the form, your employer must say why SSP has not been paid or why it is ending and the last date of payment.
Form SSP1 is used to support a claim for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). It is important that your employer give this form to you as soon as possible. Without the information on the form a decision on your entitlement to ESA cannot be made which may delay payment.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Illorinjured/DG_10018786