SSP (Statutory Sick Pay) Nightmare!

SRatzz

Hi All,

My wife has been signed off work with a serious medical complaint, and I have a couple of questions.

a) It has now been confirmed from her employer that she will receive £107.00pw in SSP, and her first three days sick are unpaid.

Is this correct? This will cause a massive financial problem, and is a big comedown from her weekly wage. It will leave us financially devastated.

b) Can an employer write out with this kind of news, while a person is off sick?

This may be a moral issue, but it has completely set my wife back in terms of recovery. She is worried and devastated by the news.

Thanks in advance guys, I knew exactly where to come for advice when I needed it - here!!

Firefox1975

£107 per week sounds about right for SSP. And yes, first three waiting days are unpaid.

lovinituk

Surely its better they wrote to you in advance rather than you suddenly being surprised by a lower pay packet?!

von

SSP at £107. per week appears to be the rate of SSP in some circumstances so is probably correct - see http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/paye/rates-thresholds.htm

I don't wish to be unkind but how did you expect the Employer to inform your wife?

WestonDave

Situation where the employer can't win - inform the employee that their pay will be lower and they get accused of causing stress, don't inform them and the employee gets a shock and stress when they suddenly realise how little they've been paid. On balance being aware sooner is probably better as it allows time to plan.

Poppie68

Her employers are working by the book in informing your wife of her entitlement, it's better than finding out on pay day....
Just a thought though i thought SSP was £85.85 per week

McKneff

Surely all this is in her contract, employer handbook.

This is normal, I don't know where they get this £107 pw comes from, SSP is normally just over £85 a week.

mummybearx

That seems a bit high for SSP, it's normally about £80-£90pw from what I remember

Edit - Others have already said this x

paddedjohn

It sounds like someone is getting confused somewhere, £107 is the amount you have to earn on average to qualify for ssp.

chris1973

Is this correct? This will cause a massive financial problem, and is a big comedown from her weekly wage. It will leave us financially devastated.

I was off work and on SSP for over 3 months after I got my leg mangled and crushed when it was trapped between two cars . I'd worked for the same company for 18 years, and had 24 years of continuous NI payments, and SSP was the only thing that I was entitled to - in fact it was a steep learning curve for me also as I'd never had to claim it before.

So unless her employer offers any other sick pay scheme or in-company benefit, the SSP figure is £85.85 per week (provided she earns more than £107 per week).

SSP is payable for upto 28 weeks, however if she is off for over a week then a Fit Note (previously called a Sick Note) should be supplied by the Doctor / Consultant / Hospital to her Employer throughout the period that she is off work.

I know from my own experience that £85.85, in the majority of cases doesn't even cover the rent, worse still as i'm single and so I earn the only salary coming into the household. Juggling self care and balancing the household bills on £85.85 a week should be part of compulsory training for any MP - lets see how they get on.

Loud and clear message from the Government - "If you are daft enough to still fall into that minority category of people who still work you simply cannot afford to get ill or be in an accident"

I learned the hard way, and I have now taken out a salary & illness payment protection plan which pays 80% of my Monthly salary if I ever get ill or injured and cannot work for a period of time. Yes, its a monthly payment I cannot really afford, then again I cannot afford to ever be off sick again, as I spent most of my savings on Council Tax, Rent and Food the last time!!.

Unfortunately the Government (and a lot of employers) don't give a flying ***k and will leave you without a pot to urinate in if you ever become sick or need medium to long term medical treatment, which leaves you unable to work.

Her Employer doesn't have to tell her anything. In fact the onus is also on your wife to keep in touch with her employer throughout any prolonged absence and to keep them informed of her recovery progress and when she expects to return, not to mention furnishing them with the aforementioned 'fit note(s)'

Sorry I haven't got any good news for you, but that is reality.

benefitbaby

Do check whether the reduced income whilst on SSP would qualify you for any housing benefit or council tax benefit, if you do qualify then this will help ease the financial problem.

See: www.entitledto.com