Dismissed on health grounds

maureenbulman

Hi,I have just been dismissed on medical grounds after a meeting with my employer.I have worked at the same place (senior care worker)for the past 11 years,the employer said i will receive 1 weeks pay for each full year of employment.This works out to about £2,700,at the minute my husband and I have a joint claim for ESA,which is £111.00 per week,we have no savings and have no other money coming in,will I have to declare(to the DWP) the amount my employer is going to pay me.

Thanking you in advance.

Maureen

RAS

Not sure if this counts as income or capital? You can have £6K in capital before it affects meant-tested benefits.

dseventy

You need to declare it, but it should not effect your payments.

D70

Horseunderwater

maureenbulman wrote: »

Hi,I have just been dismissed on medical grounds after a meeting with my employer.I have worked at the same place (senior care worker)for the past 11 years,the employer said i will receive 1 weeks pay for each full year of employment.This works out to about £2,700,at the minute my husband and I have a joint claim for ESA,which is £111.00 per week,we have no savings and have no other money coming in,will I have to declare(to the DWP) the amount my employer is going to pay me.

Thanking you in advance.

Maureen

Are you claiming income related ESA and in the WRAG or Support group? If you are in support group and not getting income related ESA, then you need to get form ESA3 to change it to income related as it will give you more benefit and passport to further help once it is converted. Yes you will need to tell them of the severance pay amount, but as it is below the £6k capital limit, you would be entitled to full rate ESA income related amounts. If you rent you might get housing benefit and council tax benefit - not too sure what it will be called next year - or if you have a mortgage you might get help with some of the interest due. NHS costs will be covered. Oh and remember that you will have accrued some holiday pay pro rata as well.

rogerblack

maureenbulman wrote: »

Hi,I have just been dismissed on medical grounds after a meeting with my employer.I

To raise another issue.
They cannot in general legally dismiss you, if it is due to a long term health problem or disability, if with reasonable adjustments to the job, you could continue doing it.
For example - this might be a slight alteration of hours (especially if others work this type of shift), or appliances or special equipment (some of this may be paid for by access to work).

However - if you can't do the job, and there are no reasonable adjustments appropriate, it is allowable for them to dismiss you on capacity grounds.

maureenbulman

Im claiming Income Related ESA,I have a joint claim with my husband,we get £111 per week off the ESA,we have no savings and no other money coming into the house.

pmlindyloo

maureenbulman wrote: »

Im claiming Income Related ESA,I have a joint claim with my husband,we get £111 per week off the ESA,we have no savings and no other money coming into the house.

Then you will be entitled to Housing Benefit, if you ren,t up to the local housing allowance (check your local council website to see what this is)

Plus you will entitled to full Council tax benefit.

If you have a mortgage then you will be entitled to Support for Mortgage interest (called housing costs - SMI - google for more info) which will 'kick in' after 13 weeks.

Your money will be classed as savings/capital and you must declare it but will not affect any benefits as it is less than £6000.

Horseunderwater

maureenbulman wrote: »

Im claiming Income Related ESA,I have a joint claim with my husband,we get £111 per week off the ESA,we have no savings and no other money coming into the house.

Use the 5 minutes benefit checker on this site. Input your income into it and all circumstances and see what it chucks out at the end. It will give you a pretty good picture of what you can get. Once you know that get the ball rolling re council tax and housing benefit etc and there might be other things that you can get as well.