First time sick and off work

barkingmad5565

I am 47 and been a single mum forever. I work part time and always have done to fit my time around the children. Different jobs but I have always worked.
On my birthday I got very ill and was admitted to hospital for 24 hrs and now I am at home trying to recover.
I have no income as I am self employed so if I dont work I dont get paid. I am still waiting to hear if I may be entitled to help with my rent.
In the mean time I have no money coming in and I'm waiting for the council sort out what, if anything, I am entitled too but untill then I am still paying the full rent and council tax. I am using up my over draf tvery quickly just to buy food for me and my daughter. Now I am hoping this will all get sorted soon but It's made me think.
Is there any saving sceme I can opt into when I finally get back to work for times like this. Its been 5 weeks now since I last worked. I get paid cash on the day. I dont earn enough to pay tax but I do pay the voulentry contribution for national insurance.
I have never been this ill before so most I have ever taken off work is a couple of days..
This has really knocked me for six.
Any advice would be great.

GlynD

You may be entitled to Employment Support Allowance. You'd be best to phone their advice line (which varies in different UK regions) and see if they can offer any assistance. You may also be entitled to a grant for essentials if you are in trouble. Your local office will be able to advise you on that. Most of all you need to ask for help because if you don't you'll never know and every day you haven't claimed is a day you will receive NO money for. You see all claims, if successful, are backdated to the day the claim was notified - even by telephone.

If you need more help then ask on here because although they don't seem to be around now there are people who post on this forum who work in the Social Security Office who will be able to give you correct and up-to-date information. I can only tell you what my own experiences are.

Hovel_lady

To check which benefits you may be entitled to have a look here.

http://www.turn2us.org.uk/

peachyprice

barkingmad5565 wrote: »

It's made me think.
Is there any saving sceme I can opt into when I finally get back to work for times like this.

You could join your local Credit Union, there's some info on the Credit Union association website
http://www.abcul.org/credit-unions/key-features

There's a 'find my local credit union' link on the home page.