Benefits for those on zero hour contracts

EmmaHerts

My brother is on a zero hour contract and has broken his arm and cannot work for about seven weeks. Is there anything he can claim during that period?

cifpower

If you apply for SSP then get turned down, you should get an SSP1 form. Then you can claim Employment Support Allowance as a state benefit.

pmlindyloo

cifpower wrote: »

If you apply for SSP then get turned down, you should get an SSP1 form. Then you can claim Employment Support Allowance as a state benefit.

To claim Statutory Sick Pay your brother will need to have been earning £111 per week to qualify.

If he is not entitled to SSP then his employer will need to complete a SSP1 form (as said above) and then he can put in a claim for Employment Support Allowance. Depending on previous NI contributions he may be entitled to contribution based ESA (not dependent on other income/savings) If not he will be assessed for income based ESA which is dependent on other income (including partner's) and savings.

Income based ESA will make him eligible for housing benefit and council tax reduction.

See here:

https://www.gov.uk/statutory-sick-pay/eligibility

EmmaHerts

Thanks guys.