Please help me, off sick, worried!

[Deleted User]

Bigmoney2 wrote: »

You should, I think, qualify for SSP after the first 3 days of absence.
It should be part of your full pay, payed by the employer (who can then claim it back from government). It is only payed for 6months and after this time is replaced by what was incapacity benefit.

I have known colleaugues where this has happened and they then get called in by DWP to assess what work than can look for even though they are in full time employment.

This is correct even if you are on full or half pay SSP is applied straight away and your Salary will be topped up to full or half pay immediately. You will already be getting SSP.

avinitinatt

Wow, all those replies have taken a while to get through, and I'm not sure I can remember everything, but all this is very helpful and I'm really grateful for your assistance. I had no idea SSP was applied to my employers sick pay. Granted I have not called my payroll or done anything yet as my new medication is making me sleep 15+ hours now and although my mood has improved a little it's no where near better yet. I do live in a one bed property and I'm 31, I cannot possibly share accommodation, I need my own space, I can become very agitated in the company of others at the moment and am feeling pretty vulnerable.

Do you know I worked 3 jobs when I was 16 and studied and have worked my whole life only claiming JSA for a period of 5 months when I was 20, I knew this system was bad, but it's not til you find yourself in the middle of it that you realise how bad it really is:(

My family have been good, my little sister is a MH Nurse, but specialises in dementia and admittely does not know anything about these forms, however she knows my medication very well and understands how it affects me day to day. I know exactly what my disabilities are and the help and support I need, and am the most experience to do the form, I just need the mental stamina and its not there, perhaps I'll get my Mum to scribe. I have a boyfriend who has been helping me at weekends and over the phone as he lives 80 miles away, and he could vouch for the support I need and what he does for me.

The SSP stuff and also info about Annual Leave (stringer?) is very useful and I have a union I am going to speak to about this.

I did on the plus side get my landlord to fill out HB paperwork for a claim, and he is very supportive so thats good.

Ok my brains mashed did I clear up everything?

I think my plan of action is to make a plan of action.... I should do this now and am gonna try... where to start? Work? Union? DLA? omg its confusing?

paulrn_2

Given the stress and worry this is causing you, would you not be better off trying to return to work, this could help you begin to get life back on track, try exercise after work to help with the stress.

avinitinatt

paulrn wrote: »

Given the stress and worry this is causing you, would you not be better off trying to return to work, this could help you begin to get life back on track, try exercise after work to help with the stress.

I have already tried this, returned to work for three weeks on a phased return, 4 hours a day for the first week, 5 the next etc... this is when I broke down and my employers specifically requested I see my GP and sent me home.

I really want to work and I enjoy my work, I don't find the actual job itself too stressful, it just happens at the moment that my condition is triggered by the slightest stress. I try to get in the gym everyday (before I became depressed I was running 5k's every evening and boxing training 2 mornings a week - some said this was too much). I am well aware of the clinical guidlines for depression (counselling, exercise and medication) and I am doing all of these things.

Today, on new meds, I am feeling an improvement, and my aim is to return to work as soon as it's safe for me to return. I just need to put plans in place for my future financial security as I know I can relapse without any warning (or no warning I am currently aware of) x