On SSP but have to resign to due re-locating (ESA question)

Rach_b_123

Hi,

I am on longterm sick due to recovering from a very serious illness and emergency operation that has left me severely physically disabled. My GP and Consultant have told me that I will be off work for a very long time. I am currently on full company sick pay.

My company sick pay is due to turn to SSP soon, but part way through the SPP term (28 weeks) I will have to hand my notice in as my partner has just secured a job elsewhere in the country and we are going to re-locate. It would probably be in about 3 to 4 months time that we would be moving so I would be looking at handing my notice in one month prior to this.

Can I apply for ESA after I have resigned from my job? Cant find much online about this type of scenario at all. Many thanks.

Torry_Quine

Only my opinion but yes I would think that you could claim ESA. You would need to register as soon as possible with a new GP as you will need a fit-note to apply. Do you have NI contributions as with a working partner you won't et income based.

pmlindyloo

I don't know whether I have misunderstood your post but thought I would just give you a 'heads up'.

SSP is paid for 28 weeks. Your company may pay you more than this and for longer than this but the SSP is part of the company pay. So, if the company has paid you for 28 weeks or longer (whether company sick pay or SSP) then your entitlement ends when the company sick pay/SSP ends.

Having read that back I'm not sure that it sounds right!

I'll try again.

You say your company sick pay is about to end then you will get SSP for 28 weeks. This is incorrect. The 28 weeks began when you started receiving your company sick pay. ie. SSP is included in the company pay.

Hope that helps!

Rach_b_123

That does help thank you! I was very unsure about all this SSP/28 weeks stuff and thought I may have been getting that wrong. Everything is worded in such a confusing manner on official websites! So I've been off for 8 weeks now, therefore based on the fact I have another 20 weeks of SSP left, I would still need to hand my notice in part-way through this period.

But I have just called the Turn2Us helpline and they said that yes I can resign from my job and apply for ESA. You must have received SSP for at least 3 weeks prior to applying, but resigning doesnt go against you.

Prior to this, I have worked for 15 years for employers so I would assume I have paid enough contributions. Fingers crossed.

Thanks for your help...lots to think about.