Help Please....What to do next....

PeteB_2000

Hi,

My company sick pay stops today as I am on long term sickness, I was on 3 months full, 3months half and now nothing, Ive never been unemployed or had to claim anything in the past and I dont know what Im entitled to or how to go about it.
Im married with 2 children (2.5yrs old and 11 months), home owner on a repayment mortgage, my wife works part time 16 hours a week and we dont have much savings.

Any help greatfully received.

Pete

Spendless

Don't you get Statuory Sick Pay from now?

Have you told tax credits about your reduced income?

mrcow

Hi,

I've not been in this position before, but AFAIK if your SSP has finished (which it sounds like it has), then you need to start claiming incapacity benefit (if your NI is up to date). Your employer should give you an SSP1 form which you send off with your application.

Take a look here - it details who's eligible.

mrcow

Sorry - obviously forgot to mention, please call your Jobcentre office ASAP (ie. this afternoon if possible!!) to ensure that you don't loose any benefit that you're entitled to.

Miroslav

As mrcow said, your employer should have given you a filled out SSP1 form. Your employer should have known this as they are responsible for it.

PeteB_2000

Thanks for the advice so far, Employer not mentioned the fact at all so its news to me about the SSP1 form.

If Im reading things correctly then I MAY be entitled to the following.

Incapacity Benefit
Tax Credits
Possibly Council Tax Reduction.

Is there anything else that may be worth pursueing

Thanks again
Pete

gravitytolls

Housing benefit, if you're in rented accomodation.

Curry_Queen

PeteB_2000 wrote:

If Im reading things correctly then I MAY be entitled to the following.

Incapacity Benefit
Tax Credits
Possibly Council Tax Reduction.

AFAIK, you should be going on to SSP now that your company sick pay is coming to an end. I don't think you will be able to claim IB until after this period, and you won't be able to get tax credits as you're not working, but i think your wife could claim them as she's working 16 hours a week.

It might be better for you to call your local CAB and have them do a benefits assessment for you as they'll be able to tell you everything you're entitled to.

Good luck

chinagirl

yes, contact JobcentrePlus and ring the claims hotline. They will explain the system to you and what you can claim. They will take the claim over the phone on the day you contact them. They will book you an appointment to see an Advisor at your local Jobcentre, but if you are housebound, they will defer the interview. As you have been in employment for a number of years, I think your pretty sure to qualify for Incapacity Benefit. yes,, your wife should be able to claim Working Tax Credits along with Child Tax Credits, as long as she continues to work 16 hours or more. When you speak to the Contact Centre, ask about help with your mortgage, chances are the interest could be covered.( I am not an expert on this, so would pay to ask when you phone, ask to speak to the Mortgage section if the person on the phone sounds a bit vague).
Over to you...