Is there help when off work sick?

jillyflower

Hi,

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this but it's a starting point.
I work for the NHS and have been off work for nearly 3 months with a long tern health issue. The condition I have will never get better but so far I've been able to carry on working without problems ( had it now 8 years).

My question is, I don't know how long it will be before I am able to return to work. So far I've been on full pay but that will drop down to half pay very soon. I'm afraid I don't know if it's SSP or how it's made up.

As a single parent if my pay halves I simply won't have enough money to pay my bills. I get working tax credits and child tax credits. Is there anythink else I can apply for to top up my income while off sick?

Any advice would be much appreciated

Thanks

jillyflower

blondebubbles wrote: »

Do you claim DLA or PIP as it's now called?

I don't claim DLA or PIP.

I'm afraid I don't know what they are!

Poppie68

NHS sick pay is usually paid at 6 months = full pay then 6 months = half pay. If you rent your home you maybe able to claim housing benefit, and help with your council tax.
PIP (formerly DLA - Disability Living Allowance) may also be appropriate.
ESA may also be a possibility if you have to give up work because of your illness.

jillyflower

Poppie68 wrote: »

NHS sick pay is usually paid at 6 months = full pay then 6 months = half pay. If you rent your home you maybe able to claim housing benefit, and help with your council tax.
PIP (formerly DLA - Disability Living Allowance) may also be appropriate.
ESA may also be a possibility if you have to give up work because of your illness.

Thanks for the reply. I too thought it was 6 months full pay but apparently it is a month for every year you have worked for them and as I've only been there 4 years my full pay ends half way through January! I currently get housing benefit but am not entitled to any help with council tax, so that may be something I would be entitled to when my pay reduces.

Poppie68

I had 6 months full at 4 years service, i was obvioulsy very lucky.
I have just been reading that anyone between the 4 and 5 year service will recieve 5 months full pay and 5 months half pay...is yours correct?
Maybe your housing benefit will be increased, i can't think of anything else that would be available to you i'm afraid.
Are you going back to work? If not ESA maybe appropriate for you.

jillyflower

Poppie68 wrote: »

I had 6 months full at 4 years service, i was obvioulsy very lucky.
I have just been reading that anyone between the 4 and 5 year service will recieve 5 months full pay and 5 months half pay...is yours correct?
Maybe your housing benefit will be increased, i can't think of anything else that would be available to you i'm afraid.
Are you going back to work? If not ESA maybe appropriate for you.

I'd like to think I'll be going back to work but to be honest the way I'm feeling now I'm not sure when it will be. I've wondered if I'd be better off giving up work but don't really like the thought of being out of work just yet. i have 12 years to go until I'm old enough to retire!

singlehouseholder

Hello, I've just gone down to half pay too, I now claim ESA, can't you put a claim in for that, it's not much but it's better than nothing. My hr dept sent out the form to complete, I sent it off , then went throughout he claim process over the phone. Good luck.

Indie_Kid

You may be entitled to a bit more housing benefit?