Being signed off sick, and need some support..

Kitty777

So first of all, I just need some moral support...I am falling apart here..


Background: In the past 9 months I have been suffering from chest pains and breathlessness. I have gone to my GP and had a few tests done that have come back clear. Gradually it has got worse and I ended up in A&E about 2 weeks ago which they did some more tests which came back clear, but they saw my saturation levels drop and refereed me to specialists etc etc...I have been off work for almost 3 weeks due to breathlessness doing simple tasks (doing the washing, hoovering, walking up the stairs etc) and a really nasty cough. I am awaiting consultations from three specialists but not until nov,dec and jan. They are considering the chance of pulmonary hypertension.

Today I have been signed off work for another month. I cried when he said a month..I am terrified I am going to lose my job. My mood is so low but they just said I need to keep things in perspective.

I asked about going private to speed things up, and the GP said for the few weeks you will gain it isn't worth the financial burden.

I work for a big retail company, in the food section (can I mention the name here?) and scared stiff that my sick pay has ran out. I have a meeting with a manager tomorrow (which I had to fight for!) to discuss what is happening and also my pay...but does anyone have any idea how long normally sick pay can last? I am going out of my mind with worry. We cannot afford to live without my wage but I don't think I can handle 1hr of work right now.

Also, due to having circulation problems that are getting worse (Raynauds is the only diagnosed one) I am getting so cold..Spend most of the day with a dressing gown on and with a hot water bottle. I am comfortable but worried about winter. Is there any heating allowance for this kind of thing? Money isn't too tight but just comfortable right now.

Not sure if it is the right group or if I made sense...I just need some hope and support. I am really upset and distressed..

Undervalued

Kitty777 wrote: »

So first of all, I just need some moral support...I am falling apart here..


Background: In the past 9 months I have been suffering from chest pains and breathlessness. I have gone to my GP and had a few tests done that have come back clear. Gradually it has got worse and I ended up in A&E about 2 weeks ago which they did some more tests which came back clear, but they saw my saturation levels drop and refereed me to specialists etc etc...I have been off work for almost 3 weeks due to breathlessness doing simple tasks (doing the washing, hoovering, walking up the stairs etc) and a really nasty cough. I am awaiting consultations from three specialists but not until nov,dec and jan. They are considering the chance of pulmonary hypertension.

Today I have been signed off work for another month. I cried when he said a month..I am terrified I am going to lose my job. My mood is so low but they just said I need to keep things in perspective.

I asked about going private to speed things up, and the GP said for the few weeks you will gain it isn't worth the financial burden.

I work for a big retail company, in the food section (can I mention the name here?) and scared stiff that my sick pay has ran out. I have a meeting with a manager tomorrow (which I had to fight for!) to discuss what is happening and also my pay...but does anyone have any idea how long normally sick pay can last? I am going out of my mind with worry. We cannot afford to live without my wage but I don't think I can handle 1hr of work right now.

Also, due to having circulation problems that are getting worse (Raynauds is the only diagnosed one) I am getting so cold..Spend most of the day with a dressing gown on and with a hot water bottle. I am comfortable but worried about winter. Is there any heating allowance for this kind of thing? Money isn't too tight but just comfortable right now.

Not sure if it is the right group or if I made sense...I just need some hope and support. I am really upset and distressed..

Statutory sick pay last for six months. After that you can claim ESA.

Company sick pay (if any) is entirely dependent on your contract and the firm's policy. It may well relate to how senior you are and how long you have been employed.

Kitty777

Undervalued wrote: »

Statutory sick pay last for six months. After that you can claim ESA.

Company sick pay (if any) is entirely dependent on your contract and the firm's policy. It may well relate to how senior you are and how long you have been employed.

SSP is nothing is it, how are people meant to live on that?

Guess I will find out tomorrow.

NeilCr

SSP is £88.45 per week

If it does look like your condition is long term you could consider applying for PIP

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/before-claiming/check-you-are-eligible/

Do you rent? If you do and your joint income is low and you don't have savings/capital you could apply for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Relief

sangie595

You'll need to post on the benefits board to get better advice on any benefits that might be available. And you'll need to tell them about your income and anyone you live with.

In terms of the employment, if you get contractual sick pay then that will be in your contract about how much and how long. Otherwise it will be SSP (assuming you qualify for it) which normally runs for up to six months.

Since you are so worried I am not going to beat about the bush with platitudes...It is possible that you might lose your job over this prolonged sickness period. That does not mean you will, but I'm not going to lie to you. This is something that isn't in your control, so you need to focus your energy on getting better - you may have a better chance of controlling that! It is possible that the employer is going to take things slowly, because your condition might qualify as a disability, although it is only borderline at the moment - you have had it only 9 months and you don't have a diagnosis or any idea of how long it will last. With disability, employers are often more cautious. But in the end, employers pay people because they want them to work, and if you can't, there will come a point when those hard decisions have to be made. I know that sounds scary, but honestly, it isn't the end of the world. Get better first - then worry about that!

You may qualify for some benefits help - the people on the benefits board can help with that. And there are also a variety of boards to help you look at what costs you can cut down on, how to eat better and pay out less, and so on. They can help you manage this period with less money. If you have debts, get onto the debts board and get advice now, before things are out of hand.

I know it is easier said than done, but worrying is just going to make things worse for you when you need all your energy for healing. Try to focus on what you can do - cutting bills and managing money, and not on what you can't. You will manage. When life throws things at you, it is very scary, but you do manage. Because you have to. I know - I have a hip bone that is crumbling away (being replaced in three weeks) which should have been replaced a few months ago, but they couldn't because I happened to have a broken ankle, which is, apparently, a result of a tibial tendon damage that also needs fixing but they now can't do that until after the hip is recovered. And that's just part of my saga of woes! So I know all about life throwing you lemons. As the Americans would say, you must make lemonade! There are lots of things here that you can't control and you can't change - so find the ones that you can and do them!

Undervalued

Kitty777 wrote: »

SSP is nothing is it, how are people meant to live on that?

Guess I will find out tomorrow.

Whether or not the state should provide full financial support for everybody who is unwell is a huge political question!

However what is provided is a matter of record and can easily be established.

What sickness pay your employer offers (if any) and for how long should be explained in your employee handbook or some similar document. Nobody here can answer that for you.

All you can do is see what they say tomorrow, check the paperwork then take it from there.

Kitty777

Thank you for your replies,

Just to say although it is has been 9 months this is the first time I have been off sick because of it.

Bogalot

I know your GP suggested going private wouldn't save much time, but you could make a few calls and ask how long it would take to get an appointment, when you have a consultation tests can often be done on the same day. You can ask about costs before committing to anything, it can become very expensive if you need tests.

theoretica

It might be worth talking to your HR too - just in case there is anything occupational health could do to speed things up.

I hope they find some way of making you feel better soon.

agrinnall

I can't see that anybody has asked how long you have worked there, if less than 2 years then it is much easier for them to dismiss you, although if you can show that your condition qualifies you as disabled that would make it more difficult.

Also, what age are you? There may be a possibility of medical retirement if you are found to be unable to work and your employer offers it as an option.

Note that the SSP rate is higher than JSA, and many people have to live on the latter.

Undervalued

agrinnall wrote: »

I can't see that anybody has asked how long you have worked there, if less than 2 years then it is much easier for them to dismiss you, although if you can show that your condition qualifies you as disabled that would make it more difficult.

Indeed.

If, and to be honest this is not very likely, the OP has a hard and fast contractual entitlement to company sick pay then the firm has little to gain by dismissing before this runs out. They would have to pay it anyway and there is case law to support that.

However such schemes are becoming rare and the vast majority of company sick pay "entitlement" is discretionary. Generally bigger firms tend to simply follow their established policies but some do take a pretty firm line.