A question regarding ssp

jax66

Hi looking for a bit of advice- I am currently receiving statuatory sick pay from employer. My doctor gave me another line till beginning of january, but my ssp runs out end of nov i think. What do i do in this situation, do i need to make a claim for something else ? Any help appreciated .

Elaine_Wilson

If your SSP ends because you have reached the 28 week limit then your employer will give you a form SSP1 which you will need to claim Employment and Support Allowance.

TrixieB

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Illorinjured/DG_171894

jax66

thanks for the replies. is there normally a long delay in claiming for esa, i'm worried as it's going to be coming up to the christmas holidays?.

TrixieB

Not much you can do about that as you can only apply when your SSP has run out. Can you get your employer to give you the exact date it'll run out so you can make sure you apply the next day?

I've just applied the back of last week by phone and was told it'd be about 2-3 weeks before I got a first payment assuming that they get all the sicknote/payslips etc in that time.

chrisbur

The following is from page 23 bottom left of the E14 Employer helpbook for SSP.
Link to booklet http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/helpsheets/e14.pdf

"If you know in advance that your employee will continue to be sick after 28 weeks SSP, you should give them form SSP1 at the 23rd week of SSP to ensure that a claim to ESA is made on time."

Along with the SSP1 form the employer should also return any certificate that covers the period after the SSP runs out.

TrixieB

Useful link thank you - am going to forward that onto MY employers who I am having problems with...

jax66

Thanks chrisbur, although you can get the form early, do you have to wait till the date it runs out before you can submit a claim?

chrisbur

jax66 wrote: »

Thanks chrisbur, although you can get the form early, do you have to wait till the date it runs out before you can submit a claim?

Interesting point and cannot answer for certain what happens these days as its a few years since I was actively involved in payroll, but when I was the point of issuing the forms early when it is possible to do so was so that the jobcentre would have time to process the aplication before the first payment was due.

tjak

I am in the same situation, having just swapped over from SSP to ESA. I applied for ESA 4 weeks before my SSP ran out, as I had a fit note signing me off until February. I have already received payment for one day ESA and now for a further 2 weeks payments.
Very straightforward so far, although the main questionnaire was difficult to complete. Good luck