Postnatal depression - benefits and work question - need help/advice?

dizziblonde1

Hi,

Im a newbie here and i would really appreciate some help/advice. Its a bit of a long story so here goes.......

I worked full-time 35hrs a week until a few months before my 2nd child was due (he was due in July 2009). In March 2009 i was signed off sick due to antenatal depression and anxiety and remained on sick leave until approx the end of june when i took any remaining annual leave and started my maternity leave early. I was due back to work in March 2010. From 6 weeks after my son was born i was diagnosed with severe postnatal depression and was undergoing treatment. I also became pregnant again whilst on my previous maternity leave and only found out just before i was due to return however i was still experiencing severe postnatal depression and still under treatment so my GP signed me off. I remained on sick leave until my SSP ran out and claimed ESA for 3 weeks before my second period of maternity leave started in January. I will be due back to work in October and my symptoms have worsened again due to a second bout of PND from this pregnancy. I am not fit to return to my current job and my GP and other professionals agree. I dont want to mess my employers around as i cannot say when i will improve........ if i were to resign would we be entitled to any help due to my health? My partner works fulltime but is on a low income (£13,000) we rent but do not claim any other benefits apart from Child tax credits and child benefit. I currently get SMP only.

A friend whose circumstances are not the same (she just gave up work to be a sahm but has a working partner and said it was not worth her working) said she claims IS/HB/CTB?

Would we be able to claim anything or would i be penalised for resigning?

We have 3 children under 5 and we are in social housing.

Thanks in advance for any help

dizziblonde1

Did i post this in the right place?

Sorry im new to this so im not sure......... would it be better in another forum?

Thanks

sunnyone

dizziblonde1 wrote: »

Hi,

Im a newbie here and i would really appreciate some help/advice. Its a bit of a long story so here goes.......

I worked full-time 35hrs a week until a few months before my 2nd child was due (he was due in July 2009). In March 2009 i was signed off sick due to antenatal depression and anxiety and remained on sick leave until approx the end of june when i took any remaining annual leave and started my maternity leave early. I was due back to work in March 2010. From 6 weeks after my son was born i was diagnosed with severe postnatal depression and was undergoing treatment. I also became pregnant again whilst on my previous maternity leave and only found out just before i was due to return however i was still experiencing severe postnatal depression and still under treatment so my GP signed me off. I remained on sick leave until my SSP ran out and claimed ESA for 3 weeks before my second period of maternity leave started in January. I will be due back to work in October and my symptoms have worsened again due to a second bout of PND from this pregnancy. I am not fit to return to my current job and my GP and other professionals agree. I dont want to mess my employers around as i cannot say when i will improve........ if i were to resign would we be entitled to any help due to my health? My partner works fulltime but is on a low income (£13,000) we rent but do not claim any other benefits apart from Child tax credits and child benefit. I currently get SMP only.

A friend whose circumstances are not the same (she just gave up work to be a sahm but has a working partner and said it was not worth her working) said she claims IS/HB/CTB?

Would we be able to claim anything or would i be penalised for resigning?

We have 3 children under 5 and we are in social housing.

Thanks in advance for any help

I think you need specialist help on this one as its a very unsual position your in.

Your friend is claming fraudulently btw as there is no way she can claim IS while living with her partner who works full time, if he is on a low wage they may be entitled to HB/CTB but never IS.

dizziblonde1

sunnyone wrote: »

I think you need specialist help on this one as its a very unsual position your in.

Your friend is claming fraudulently btw as there is no way she can claim IS while living with her partner who works full time, if he is on a low wage they may be entitled to HB/CTB but never IS.

Hi Sunnyone,

Thanks so much for your reply. When you say 'specialist help' do you mean the CAB or should i be contacting someone specific? Not sure where to go for advice?

Thanks for the 'heads-up' about my friend....... it didn't sound right that she would be able to claim so much when she told me about it, i should have know when it sounded 'too good to be true'

I really appreciate your help - Thank you

jetplane

Sorry to hear of you PND and hope that you are receiving the necessary treatment to help you recover.

Yes go to your CAB or Welfare Rights, and also your HR department. Try not to think of resigning, you may be entitled to some payments from work depending on your contract, if you are unfit for work you can not sign on anyway.

You can claim ESA even if you are still employed but not being paid, however you will need to satisfy the medical, you can appeal and be paid while you wait. Your employer may have schemes for helping you back to work, redeployment, phased return.

It is true that some people are better off not working or the difference is small enough to justify them wanting to be at home with their children. But you will need a benefit check to see what other help you can receive.

dizziblonde1

Thanks for your reply Jetplane, I have counselling (have been going every week for over a year) and i am on medication so hopefully things will start to improve soon....... i am hoping it does!

I will contact the CAB and speak to them.

I appreciate your replys - thank you