Claiming pay after shielding.

groovethief

Hello Everyone,

Im new here but need something clearing up as the more I read about it the more confused I get.

I shielded on the 1st lockdown because members in my household care for vunerble people. I work for  big supermarket but was told I had to apply at the .gov myself to see if I could claim while shielding. Like a lot of us im still trying to get back on top of my finances over a year later due to all the unpaid time I had off. 

 I dont claim any type of benerfits and work a 25hr contract at about 10:25 a hour. While I love my employer (still working for them) I fell hard done by and seem to think they could have done something or at least advised me better. 

Should I have been able to claim anything? If so could I be owed money and be able to backdate a claim?

 If anyone knows for certain please let me know. 

Thanks for taking the time to read this. I do apreciate your time.

kayleighali

It sounds as if you weren't entitled to financial assistance for shielding as you yourself were not clinically vulnerable, is that right?

If so, I do not believe there was anything in place for these situations. I know of people myself who work in a care home and partners worked in supermarkets...they continued as normal throughout lockdown and ensured they followed all government advice to the letter. Not sure what part of the UK you are but it may be worth checking with your local MP as all covid pages online show the current advice and don't go into a lot of detail about historical information

Caz3121

It is not clear from your post whether you received an official letter telling you that you needed to shield. If that was the case you may have been able to claim SSP for the period.
If you were not told to shield and this was a voluntary action (all be it for good reason) I cannot think of anything but worth having a read here (although many of the schemes are now closed)
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2020/04/employed-help-coronavirus-furlough/
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2020/04/benefits-help-coronavirus/
although I suspect backdating anything after over a year may not be possible

onashoestring

Did you stay off work because 
• you were vulnerable ( shielding )or
• to protect others in your household who were sheilding or 

•to protect others in your household  who care for vulnerable people ? 

Did you receive any pay from your employer during this time ? 

poppy12345

If you chose to stay home because you live with vulnerable people that were shielding then no, your employer was correct not to pay you. Lots of people worked all the way through while living with vulnerable people.

68ComebackSpecial

groovethief said:

 While I love my employer (still working for them) I fell hard done by and seem to think they could have done something or at least advised me better. 

It isn't your employer's place to advise you as to what benefits you might be entitled to. Had you received a "shielding" letter from the NHS they would have paid you in line with the guidelines but were under no obligation to do so as you were "shielding" by choice. Your employer did do something for you - they allowed you to take unpaid leave when they could have taken disciplinary action for your failure to attend work.

elsien

You were not vulnerable, from your initial post. Even if there were vulnerable people in your household (which given you say you were shielding because family members were working with vulnerable people also doesn’t sound like it was the case), that was not a reason to shield yourself. 

On that basis doesn’t sound as if you fit within the guidelines for shielding - you chose to do so and that is not your employer’s responsibility.

onashoestring

I shielded on the 1st lockdown because members in my household care for vunerble people. 

From what you have said it doesn’t seem that you were vulnerable and required to shield , or even that anyone in your household was vulnerable and needed to shield .

Therefore your employer does not owe you pay for not working. It is good that they were considerate and allowed you time off and have taken you back.

Your employer was correct to advise you that  when you decided not to work , it was your responsibility to find out if were entitled to any Government benefits and apply for  them yourself , it is not something your employer can do for you .

Benefits can’t be backdated unless there is an exceptional reason and certainly not backdated 18 months in any circumstances .

The pandemic has been tough for all of us in different ways, whilst you are not entitled to any back dates benefits , it’s fantastic that you have a supportive employer and that you have a job now. If you are struggling with debit - you may find the debt free wannabe forum helpful.