Bus driver not getting paid due to schools closing, options? SSP Or Universal Credit 19 March 2020 at 11:43PM in Redundancy & redundancy planning 2 replies 111 views

anxioussteve

I  have been temporarily been laid off work from Friday due to schools closing, my bus company haven't got anymore work for me due to schools closing and will pay me this month but next month they won't. i suffer anxiety and i'm wondering if i'm better off claiming SSP instead of universal credit. i'm a single parent dad to my 15 year old daughter. They said i will be £291 down on my wages a month. i get £946 a month net with tax credits of £382.  i usually get paid for when i'm off over the school holidays.  But now that has changed and they won't pay me (also wandering if that is legal)  

Another option would be for me to find a delivery job with one of the supermarkets, which would also stop my current anxiety... 

What are my options? Claim SSP as i suffer anxiety badly now or claim universal credit for now?  Which route would I be better off financially?  Can I technically claim Universal credit as I am still technically employed by them.  

TBagpuss

If you have been laid off you won't be able to get SSP - That is paid by your employer (albeit they may be able to claim it back if you are off due to CV) . If you have been laid off you no longer have an employer. You might be able to apply for ESA if you are too unwell to work, although unless your anxiety is debilitating to the extent that you cannot work, I am not sure that you would qualify.
In terms of non-payment over the holiday, I think for most people in this situation, your pay is based on the time you work but paid in 12 equal wage payments, rather  than being paid in the months you work and getting nothing in the holidays. If that is that case, then you need to check with your employer but they should work out your correct final pay, based on your contract.  
You say that you are "still technically employed" - has your employer said that the lay off is temporary? (in effect, that they are asking you to take unpaid leave during the crisis?)  If so,  think you can still claim UC but would have to declare your situation.

General_Grant

Being temporarily laid off is not a dismissal.  So, in reality, anxioussteve is still employed, he does have an employer as long as the fourth word of his post ("temporarily") is accurate.

I'm afraid I don't know enough about the benefits system to advise on that other than that I believe that, when he is working fewer than 16 hours a week, he could qualify for contribution-based JSA.  Then again, I don't know enough about tax credits to advise.