ESA question

Mrs_Ryan

Hi all
Just a quick question. Im at a stalemate with my job, I've been off for 6 months sick now and my full pay is about to run out. SSP runs out next month but I have half pay until July.

Can I claim ESA when my SSP runs out even though I'm still being paid by work? And if so how do sick notes work - would I need to get 2?

Conts all present and correct - worked full time for the last 6 years.
Thanks

Torry_Quine

Yes you can and should get a form from the hospital before the SSP runs out. Not sure how it works re fit-notes.

galante_inc

Mrs Ryan....

At the 28 week mark of sickness, your employers would normally write to your GP to find out when you are coming back to work...then arrange a meeting with you " welfare meeting " to decide if they would keep you employed of not... most employers don't want someone on the sick dragging on, cost to much to cover the work... but it all really depends on the reason for sickness.... Apply for the ESA when the sick pay runs out, but please declare that you are still getting half pay from your employers

Poppie68

Employers don't generally write to GP's...occupational health may do though.
OP have you been recieving ful sick pay and SSP at the same time?

Regrading the fit notes, You would have to photocopy the original as GP's dont issue 2.

Mrs_Ryan

That's great, thank you.
I haven't been receiving SSP at all, just full occupational sick pay for the last 6 months. I only have 1 month worth of SSP due to me (presumably due to previous sickness as I'm also in remission from cancer) I know my Occupational Health have written to my GP with my permission although I know the doctor I saw has told my manager that due to my complex health issues that he is unsure when I will be back at work. His actual words were 'for now it would be better for you to stay off indefinitely' which is mad because I could do other jobs I just can't do my own! I have asked three times now for them to consider moving me elsewhere but they won't which annoys me- however I know my sick record is awful (mostly disability related although it's been pointed out to me that most employers wouldn't want to take someone with that sort of sick record on) I'm back to see Occy health tomorrow in which I plan to ask them again can they please start considering recommendation of redeployment because it's affecting my mental health (which they're aware is fragile as I suffer with severe anxiety, depression and PTSD as well as my physical issues)
Thanks again everyone. Will look into the ESA application in a couple of weeks when it's time- I just didn't want to lose out.

galante_inc

Hi All

I talk from personal experience of being off work long term, most HR departments in any company will keep a track on sickness and it is there right to get your permission to write to your GP...
My situation wasn't referred to Occupational Health service and they chose to write to my GP, after all I had nothing to hide.... but when it came to a welfare meeting, HR informed me they had a few ideas how to get my back to work but came up with nothing and ended terminating my employment... when I spoke with a solicitor was advised that it would cost to get them unfair dismissal and they could simply have to prove that I was unfit to do my job and that would be that....

Robbie64

Mrs_Ryan wrote: »

Hi all
Just a quick question. Im at a stalemate with my job, I've been off for 6 months sick now and my full pay is about to run out. SSP runs out next month but I have half pay until July.

Can I claim ESA when my SSP runs out even though I'm still being paid by work? And if so how do sick notes work - would I need to get 2?

Conts all present and correct - worked full time for the last 6 years.
Thanks

Your employer should send you a form (SSP1) about a month before your SSP stops. You then would fill this in and send it to the DWP to start your ESA claim.

Your GP will normally issue only one sick or fit note at a time. The usual procedure is that you send this to your employer who should then return this to you which you would then send to the DWP.

Torry_Quine

blondebubbles wrote: »

I've never heard of an employer writing to the doctor. Doesn't that defeat the point of doctor/patient confidentiality?

I agree. The employer will or at least should contact the employee to find out when they are comeing back and shoudl involve OH in that decision

Mrs_Ryan

I've been to see Occupational Health this morning and he agrees that there's no prospect of me returning to work at the moment, partly due to my mental health and partly due to the fact I'm waiting for further tests on my back. The letter I got from payroll states that SSP will be payable from the 24th of this month to the 23rd I think of next month (basically one full pay period for me) so should I be ringing them now and asking for a form to apply for ESA? Also my holiday entitlement for this year is largely unused (I went off sick in August, our holiday year runs from April to March and I don't tend to use holiday in the summer due to close season) and I can't see me being back at work before March. Should I also be asking them about payment in lieu for that as well? I've only ever claimed benefit once in my life before (JSA for about 6 weeks) so I'm totally clueless about any of this plus my payroll are useless (I had a payment for arrears of £1100 when I was off with the cancer so you can see why I'm wary!) thanks

Poppie68

If there is no prospect of you going back to work in the near future you need to start taking you holidays otherwise you may lose them. Maybe possible when you SSP runs out.