Illness, SSP, ESA? Can anyone please advise if my mum is entitled?

Kitty4kits

My mum is mid 50s.
Her health has been deteriorating over the last few years. She's had heart problems, blood pressure, fainting spells, palpitations...

It's gotten worse and it's accumulated into anxiety about work which raises her blood pressure etc. She has made the decision she cannot work anymore as she literally feels like she is on the verge of something serious happening with her physical health.

She has worked for the last 25 years.

Shes looked at SSP (unfortunately she recently moved jobs so hasn't been there long)

It looks like it won't be enough to pay her bills and mortgage.

Can she claim PIP alongside SSP?

She may be able to scrape by with both

Or if not can she quit and immediately apply for ESA and PIP?

I've been trying to find out but am going round in circles.

Thanks.

calcotti

PIP is not means tested and is not related to work. It depends on how her health limits her ability to do specific activities. PIP can be claimed alongside work or other benefits.

If she has a doctors Fit Note saying she is too ill to work her employer will pay SSP for up to 28 weeks.

if she is too ill to work, has Fit Note and is not entitled to SSP she can claim new style ESA if she paid NI from April 2016 to March 2018. It is not means tested.

If she has low income and savings not over £16,000 she can claim Universal Credit. UC is means tested. Any ESA is deducted in full from UC. Any SSP is taken into account when working out a UC but is not deducted in full. PIP is ignored when working out UC. If she quits her job and the DWP think it was without good reason she could be sanctioned for 13 weeks.

Lots of information on Citizens Advice
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/benefits-for-people-who-are-sick-or-disabled/

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/rights-at-work/sick-pay/check-if-youre-entitled-to-sick-pay/

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/employment-and-support-allowance/

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/before-you-apply/Check-if-youre-eligible-for-Universal-Credit/

If she is on a low income she can also claim Council Tax Reduction to help with her Council Tax bill.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/help-if-on-a-low-income/help-with-your-council-tax-council-tax-reduction/council-tax-reduction-what-you-need-to-know/

Being assessed as having Limited Capability for Work or being assessed for PIP and both lengthy processes and even if she is eventually awarded higher benefits her intitial benefit income will not be much. For example, if she goes off sick, receives SSP and claims UC she will get £92.05/week of SSP and £66.52/month UC - a total of £107.52/week.