SSP + benefits advice.

ryanm8655

Hi there,


I have recently returned to work having been signed off sick for almost 2 months.


My employer has informed me that the terms of my contract dictate that I am only entitled to 1 month @ full pay, the rest will be SSP. They didn't realise themselves and have overpaid me, so will be deducting this from my wages over the next 3 months.


Not great...I am a civil servant and recently moved to a new department so they are saying as I have been at this department less than 6 months my fully paid sickness leave entitlement is just 1 month rather than the 6 months it would be if my service in previous departments was counted...


Anyway. I have just received my payslip and have only received £55.xx SSP, rather than a full months worth. I think they are splitting the sick leave over the next 3 months but even so that works out to more than 1 week/month and SSP is £88.45/week right?


Moreover, I am in receipt of higher rate DLA for both care and mobility. Am I right in thinking I am entitled to claim for income support (or whatever it happens to be called now) + housing benefit for the period I am on SSP? As the SSP is below the minimum amount the government considers I need to live on.


How would I go about claiming this? What evidence would I need to support my claim?


It's been a long time since I have claimed benefits so am completely out of the loop and have no idea...


Advice much appreciated.


Thanks,
Ryan

Torry_Quine

Income support has been replaced by ESA for sickness/disability. However it is not claimable alongside SSP but only after that is exhausted.

ryanm8655

Thanks for the reply. How would I claim the top-up amount?


When I used to get income support I got about £140/week many moons ago...so presumably there is a way to claim the difference between the SSP and ESA?


What about housing benefit?


Thanks,
Ryan

TELLIT01

Unless the rules for Income Support at top up for SSP have changed in the past few months the OP can potentially claim Income Support. I say potentially because we don't know their full circumstances.
If the OP is a single person there will be no top up because SSP pays more than the single person rate of IS.
If the OP has a partner and the partner doesn't work they will have entitlement to IS topup.
If the OP has a partner and the partner works, there may be entitlement depending on the amount the partner earns.

It would also be worth the OP checking that previous Civil Service employment doesn't count towards sick pay entitlement. HR aren't noted for getting things right.

ryanm8655

TELLIT01 wrote: »

Unless the rules for Income Support at top up for SSP have changed in the past few months the OP can potentially claim Income Support. I say potentially because we don't know their full circumstances.
If the OP is a single person there will be no top up because SSP pays more than the single person rate of IS.
If the OP has a partner and the partner doesn't work they will have entitlement to IS topup.
If the OP has a partner and the partner works, there may be entitlement depending on the amount the partner earns.

Thanks for the reply.


This is what I thought but not sure if things have changed with all the cuts...as I say it has been a long time since I have claimed other than for DLA.


I am single, but under the old system because I receive Disability Living Allowance at the higher rate I got other allowances such as "severe disablement allowance" so the amount I received in income support was something like £80/90 more than the rate for a single person without a disability.


I am hoping this is the case as I've essentially got a £2k hole in my finances so some kind of benefits plus housing benefit would at least cover my rent...


I am single, late twenties, but am a wheelchair user and in receipt of higher rate disability living allowance. I have been working for the past 4+ years (since finishing uni) so haven't claimed in that time other than for DLA which isn't means tested.


Thanks,
Ryan

Darksparkle

How many hours do you normally work?

How much do you normally earn?

Do you claim WTC?

ryanm8655

Hi there,


I work 36 hours/week.


My gross salary is £39k, net I get about £2100/month after pension/student loan etc. So essentially I am about £2k "out of pocket" though perhaps the wrong term...


I live in London however so expenses are very high...rent for example (in a flat share) is £850/month...


I don't claim WTC or anything else as I assumed at my income level I'm not entitled to anything.


I wouldn't be looking to claim now but for the fact with no income I am having to borrow to pay my rent.


Thanks,
Ryan

Alice_Holt

Re HB.

This is claimable from your council. Backdating is limited, so if you think you may be eligilible get the claim into the council asap. Request a backdate. You can follow up with the required documentation.
The claim starts from the first Monday after the claim is received (check this with your council). It should be possible to make an online claim.

https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/Housing-Benefit-(England-Scotland-and-Wales)/What-is-Housing-Benefit
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/help-if-on-a-low-income/help-with-your-rent-housing-benefit/

"Backdating for working age claimants
Your housing benefit can be backdated for up to one month if you are of working age.
You must:
- ask for your housing benefit claim to be backdated
- have a good reason for claiming late"

http://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/housing_benefit/backdating_housing_benefit

ryanm8655

Thanks Alice. I will apply now.

Darksparkle

Yes the WTC limit would be around £23,750 for your cimrcumstances.

I'm surprised you don't get continuous employment with the civil service.

Alice_Holt

On your salary (together with the fact that you have been overpaid during your sickness leave) HB may prove to be difficult to claim as your monthly salary slips are likely to be above the applicable amount for payment of HB.

HB can be calculated weekly, so you may need a letter from your employer confirming the actual pay due for the second month of sickness (not the amount actually paid).

HB will be limited to the LHA shared rate for your area.