SSP and All My Savings Gone

frustrated-in-bolton

Short breakdown...
July 2011 - Hurt my back and had to go off work because I can't sit at my desk. The doctor thought it might be a trapped nerve and gave me Tramadol. I expected to be off for a week.
August 2011 - After 4 weeks, employer dropped me to SSP (£80.61/week). Wasn't too worried as had some money in savings. Doctor referred me for a scan.
September 2011 - Still off work but savings and money my Dad owed me still keeping me going. Still waiting for scan.
October 2011 - After 8 weeks, finally had my scan. Partner took me on holiday which we'd been planning for months and paid for everything as my savings were all gone. Needed a break.

Today, my partner is offering to help me out with money, we live together, but we've not been together a year and I feel so guilty. Still waiting for scan results and still in a lot of pain. Work won't let me work from home although I have ample electronic equipment including a PC and a Mac. Yesterday I had a diagnosis of moderate-severe depression which is making getting out of bed difficult and leaving the house impossible. Before I went off work, I was well on my way to financial health, bills were being paid off every month and my loans were slowly but surely coming down. Now? I'm in the black again. I've discovered that I will not receive any help because my partner has a good job, but my debts are not her responsibility - this strikes me as incredibly unfair. Can anybody give me any information about how I can sort out my financial situation?

Caz3121

SSP is more than ESA so probably that is the most you can hope for. Do you rent? you may be able to get some help with housing benefit whilst your household income has dropped. Partners are there to help each other in times of need. I doubt you being there is resulting in that much of an increase in bills, some extra food, extra on the council tax. The issue would be with your debts. Have you tried to contact them and advise them of your current situation, you may be able to come to an arrangement

sick2death

Probably a long shot, but what about looking for a job that allows you to work from home? You sound as if your set up for it.

karenx

All benefits take into account joint income so you will find you are entitled to very little if your partner earns a good wage. And benefits dont take into account any debts you have to pay either

frustrated-in-bolton

sick2death wrote: »

Probably a long shot, but what about looking for a job that allows you to work from home? You sound as if your set up for it.

I've been thinking a lot about trying to get a home working job, but they all seem to be scams! I'd love to find something full time, at the moment I have so much time on my hand and it's driving me crazy! :-S

LizzieS_2

frustrated-in-bolton wrote: »

Short breakdown...
July 2011 - Hurt my back and had to go off work because I can't sit at my desk.

Work won't let me work from home although I have ample electronic equipment including a PC and a Mac.

How can you sit at a desk at home but not at work? If you were planning to sit at home on something more comfortable to work then chances are you would do more damage than good to your back.

Have you asked your employer if you could work less hours for a period of time? Have you any idea when you are likely to recover? If you are looking at taking on a work from home job have you considered whether your current employer would allow this?

GlasweJen

Do you have a work occupational therapist? Ask to be referred to them. They can negogotiate a phased return to work and also recommend different seating, breaks and the like to make sure you don't make yourself worse.

Sixer

frustrated-in-bolton wrote: »

I've been thinking a lot about trying to get a home working job, but they all seem to be scams! I'd love to find something full time, at the moment I have so much time on my hand and it's driving me crazy! :-S

There are threads on the Up Your Income board. Pocket money-type work includes Cha Cha and Emystery Shopper. There's also home-based call centre work on there and companies called Lionbridge and Butler Hill who are something to do with web research.

Can't vouch for any of them personally, but check out the threads.

frustrated-in-bolton

LizzieS wrote: »

How can you sit at a desk at home but not at work? If you were planning to sit at home on something more comfortable to work then chances are you would do more damage than good to your back.

I wouldn't be sitting at a desk, I'd be laying on a bed with either my MacBook on my lap or my PC which my partner has very kindly set up in our bedroom.

I've thought about a phased return, but as I have yet to have any proper treatment (just painkillers), it hurts like hell to be sat at a desk! I'm calling ACAS today.