Clinically Extremely Vulnerable

Loanranger21

To return to the OP and their problem, i would contact the local council tomorrow, Monday, and your local councillors both County and Borough depending on how your locality is organised. They have been given funds by the government to help vulnerable people and you need to approach them for that help. Don't delay.

Loanranger21

To repeat:

To return to the OP and their problem, i would contact the local council today, Monday, and your local councillors both County and Borough depending on how your locality is organised. They have been given funds by the government to help vulnerable people and you need to approach them for that help. Don't delay.

Becles

tracyregan said:

I don’t have much knowledge of this but it seems bizarre that some are furloughed on 80% salary and others who are extremely clinically vulnerable and have been told not to go to work only get SSP!  Or am I wrong?

No you are correct. I was refused furlough and put on sickness benefits for five months due to being extremely clinically vulnerable and having a shielding letter. 

Under the guidance announced extremely clinically vulnerable are advised not to go to work, but nothing has been put in place to cover lost wages again. I have spoken at work and been told they will not furlough me and I will be on unpaid leave and have to claim sickness benefits if I want to stop off work again this time.

Jeremy535897

tracyregan said:

I don’t have much knowledge of this but it seems bizarre that some are furloughed on 80% salary and others who are extremely clinically vulnerable and have been told not to go to work only get SSP!  Or am I wrong?

Their employer could furlough them.

tracyregan

Becles said:

tracyregan said:

I don’t have much knowledge of this but it seems bizarre that some are furloughed on 80% salary and others who are extremely clinically vulnerable and have been told not to go to work only get SSP!  Or am I wrong?

No you are correct. I was refused furlough and put on sickness benefits for five months due to being extremely clinically vulnerable and having a shielding letter. 

Under the guidance announced extremely clinically vulnerable are advised not to go to work, but nothing has been put in place to cover lost wages again. I have spoken at work and been told they will not furlough me and I will be on unpaid leave and have to claim sickness benefits if I want to stop off work again this time.

That’s awful.  You should get 80% of your salary the same as everyone else.  I was 60 this year and as they could no longer afford my pension I work 2 days a week in a large supermarket.  I really don’t feel safe.  When you ask people to keep their distance some are so rude.  This pandemic seems to have bought out the worst in some people.  Good luck to you.

tickle_me_emma

Jeremy535897 said:

tracyregan said:

I don’t have much knowledge of this but it seems bizarre that some are furloughed on 80% salary and others who are extremely clinically vulnerable and have been told not to go to work only get SSP!  Or am I wrong?

Their employer could furlough them.

Therein lies the problem. 'Could' and 'can' leaves everything wide open. By leaving it to employer's discretion, there's a whole section of people whose employers are refusing furlough because it's entirely 'optional'.
I find myself in a similar position to OP, I fall into the vulnerable category and was allowed to work from home for a few weeks before my managers realised they'd have to do one or two things for themselves and forced me back into work or lose my job. Discussed furlough and was told that because there was work to be done, they would not be furloughing anyone, nor would they be closing for the lockdown. We aren't an essential company, my work is not essential and could easily be done from home. They have no intentions of closing this time around either. The health and safety signs have been put up to pay lip service in case HSE pay us a visit, but nobody is actually taking any extra care. We've been told not to push customers to wear a mask because then they might not spend any money with us. 
SSP won't pay my mortgage. I've been told I am entirely replaceable if I choose not to go to work. I feel like I'm being asked to choose between my health and my job. I'm frightened about what might happen if I were to catch it. I know the obvious answer is 'get a new job', and I've been trying since the first lockdown but haven't had much luck. 
Sorry to not provide a solution OP, and for the rant. Just know you aren't alone in what you're going through. All I heard about through the first lockdown was essential workers and those who had been furloughed. For a while I felt quite alone as someone who was vulnerable and continuing to work, but not an essential worker. 

bradders1983

tracyregan said:

Becles said:

tracyregan said:

I don’t have much knowledge of this but it seems bizarre that some are furloughed on 80% salary and others who are extremely clinically vulnerable and have been told not to go to work only get SSP!  Or am I wrong?

No you are correct. I was refused furlough and put on sickness benefits for five months due to being extremely clinically vulnerable and having a shielding letter. 

Under the guidance announced extremely clinically vulnerable are advised not to go to work, but nothing has been put in place to cover lost wages again. I have spoken at work and been told they will not furlough me and I will be on unpaid leave and have to claim sickness benefits if I want to stop off work again this time.

  This pandemic seems to have bought out the worst in some people

Indeed, judging by some of the threads that have popped up it has turned a lot of people into workshy furlough addicts who recoil in horror at the thought of having to go back to work and are finding every excuse not to bother.

MattMattMattUK

What many people seem to be forgetting is that furlough has a cost to the company, even if they do not top up with er's NI, pensions and accrual of holiday it work out around 20% of base salary. To expect a company to pay out 20% of a salary for someone who has decided that they do not wish to work us unreasonable. If the company chooses to make that choice it is choosing the financial burden, but it is unfair for people to demand a company takes on that burden.

Jeremy535897

It still may be cheaper than SSP, once the fortnight that can be recovered has ended.

Becles

bradders1983 said:

tracyregan said:

Becles said:

tracyregan said:

I don’t have much knowledge of this but it seems bizarre that some are furloughed on 80% salary and others who are extremely clinically vulnerable and have been told not to go to work only get SSP!  Or am I wrong?

No you are correct. I was refused furlough and put on sickness benefits for five months due to being extremely clinically vulnerable and having a shielding letter. 

Under the guidance announced extremely clinically vulnerable are advised not to go to work, but nothing has been put in place to cover lost wages again. I have spoken at work and been told they will not furlough me and I will be on unpaid leave and have to claim sickness benefits if I want to stop off work again this time.

  This pandemic seems to have bought out the worst in some people

Indeed, judging by some of the threads that have popped up it has turned a lot of people into workshy furlough addicts who recoil in horror at the thought of having to go back to work and are finding every excuse not to bother.

I am going to work. I'm not stopping off this time.