Benefits available for mentally unwell friend?

Darksparkle

kitrat wrote: »

Thank you all I have a millions tabs open and I'm utterly confused, (God help anyone actually suffering from an illness get through all this) but you've all given me some info I can work with. This PIP looks appropriate and I personally think she meets the criteria for the disability working tax credit, would this be used to top up part time work presumably?

Although she may meet the criteria, her income is too high for WTC.

She'd maybe be able to claim in April but it would depend on how many hours she then works/what she earns.

elsien

Poppie68 wrote: »

No the NHS pay your normal full pay for 6 months then halve her normal pay for a further 6 months, she would then claim SSP for up to 28 weeks which is £88 per week.

Are you sure about that? I was speaking to an NHS worker yesterday whose full pay continues till March but has received a letter from the employer to say that her SSP entitlement ran out in January. So in her case it looks as if the SSP has been claimed throughout the sickness already.

Darksparkle

elsien wrote: »

Are you sure about that? I was speaking to an NHS worker yesterday whose full pay continues till March but has received a letter from the employer to say that her SSP entitlement ran out in January. So in her case it looks as if the SSP has been claimed throughout the sickness already.

That's how it works with my employer.

I'm sure I did see another post that NHs was different though.

elsien

I'd suggest most employers are likely to claim the SSP from the start as it subsidises what they pay if they pay over and above SSP rates. Maybe one for the OP to check.

beecher2

I think it'd be a good idea to focus on the meeting before thinking of possible benefits. Try to get your friend to think about what she wants from the meeting and maybe put together some bullet points with her to take into the meeting. ie
-I would like redeployment to a suitable post where I do not have to do the particular task
- I have OCD and would like this to be taken into consideration
- I would like a phased return to work

Try to keep it simple. It is great you are trying to sort everything out for your friend, but she does need to think about the outcome she wants.

Poppie68

elsien wrote: »

Are you sure about that? I was speaking to an NHS worker yesterday whose full pay continues till March but has received a letter from the employer to say that her SSP entitlement ran out in January. So in her case it looks as if the SSP has been claimed throughout the sickness already.

To be honest I have no idea? I never went past 8 months but was never ever informed any element of my pay was SSP...

Darksparkle

elsien wrote: »

I'd suggest most employers are likely to claim the SSP from the start as it subsidises what they pay if they pay over and above SSP rates. Maybe one for the OP to check.

Employers no longer claim SSP.

All sick pay is paid by them.

kitrat

beecher2 wrote: »

I think it'd be a good idea to focus on the meeting before thinking of possible benefits. Try to get your friend to think about what she wants from the meeting and maybe put together some bullet points with her to take into the meeting. ie
-I would like redeployment to a suitable post where I do not have to do the particular task
- I have OCD and would like this to be taken into consideration
- I would like a phased return to work

Try to keep it simple. It is great you are trying to sort everything out for your friend, but she does need to think about the outcome she wants.

Yes I am finding this hard trying to factor in all the different possibilities post-meeting, we'll have to find out what's on offer.

I've said she should write some bullet points down (MSE has sunk in over the years!) as I expect she will not say things out loud. Impossible to get her to do things :S I've realised no-one else is going to help her so I might as well try. I'll ask her if she'd like to get together and write something together.

beecher2

kitrat wrote: »

Yes I am finding this hard trying to factor in all the different possibilities post-meeting, we'll have to find out what's on offer.

I've said she should write some bullet points down (MSE has sunk in over the years!) as I expect she will not say things out loud. Impossible to get her to do things :S I've realised no-one else is going to help her so I might as well try. I'll ask her if she'd like to get together and write something together.

Good luck - I know it can be really frustrating, especially when you're getting information second hand. Are you able to attend the meeting with her? Even if you were unable to speak, you'd at least know what the options were.

elsien

But the entitlement still runs alongside the employers sick pay, rather than being added on at the end, which is the point I was trying to make.

Edit - if she's accrued holiday while being off sick, she may be able to use some if this to make up hours/pay for a phased return?