Unfair no help both off work with covid

wendyhopwood

Hi does not seem fair there is no help as me and my husband have covid 1st time, there is no extra help for us, yet 2 years ago anybody off work with covid got their wages covered and free tests, now government changed rules but we aren't allowed go work as i work in restaurant and husband works for NHS, we are struggling on ssp doesn't cover our outgoings but we not entitled to any help and more people are getting covid again

onashoestring

Sorry to hear this - I thought NHS employees got full pay when off sick ? 

lisyloo

onashoestring said:

Sorry to hear this - I thought NHS employees got full pay when off sick ? 

NHS rules changed 7/7, but sounds like husband wAs ill before that.

wendy - is your husband directly employed by the NHS?

clive0510

I too have covid and can not work while testing positive. I work in the private sector, and all I will of been earning for the last week is ssp. so under the circumstances I've cashed in a s/s isa I had, and put it in my current account. that will have to keep me going until such time as I test negative, and can return to work.

lisyloo

Sickness (beyond any employers sick pay scheme) has always been the responsibility of the individual with benefits as a safety net but nothing more.
I sympathise with wendy as the NHS rules changed 7/7, so it's always going to feel unfair if you fall just over/under a threshold, but the fact is that it has always been down the the individual to take financial responsibility for sickness (if the employer isn't generous).
Covid is of course a relatively new addition, but we've had more than 2 years to adapt now.
I'm not sure how much notice there was on the NHS rule change but general financial plans for any other sickness should kick in.
If you haven't got any financial plans in place then it will be benefits but we've known for a long time that it's a very low level hence there has always been a suggestion to make your own plans.

powerspowers

You are right it’s unfair! Your local council may still be able offer support if you are struggling financially- mine is. I can point you the right direction if you say which council it is or try searching their website for covid support / crisis payment / household support fund. They are all doing things differently. 

jon81uk

Covid is no different to being off work with any other illness now.
If you had flu, food poisoning, a broken leg etc you would be in the same situation.

All depends what the terms of your contract with your employer says in regards to sick pay. If you know you don't get sick pay from day 1 you need to plan for that.

lisyloo

jon81uk said:

Covid is no different to being off work with any other illness now.
If you had flu, food poisoning, a broken leg etc you would be in the same situation.

I would agree.
The only difference here is that NHS staff have had a special scheme in place until 7/7/22.
This is partly because NHS staff are more likely to catch covid due to the nature of their job so it's an "occupational hazard".
Those rules change tomorrow.
I don't know how widely publicised that has been (I saw it browsing the news).
I'd hope NHS staff had been informed with notice.

onashoestring

If you are in Scotland and on low-income you can still get a self-isolation grant 

sheramber

Help when isolating was when it was a legal requirement to isolate.

That is no longer the case. It is just advice now.  Your employer insisting you do not come to work is  between you and your employer.

Longwalker

I have to agree, there is no legal requirement to self isolate and if you feel well enough to be in work, go back, they can not stop you

I myself returned to work after 48 hrs, Yes I was tired the first day, so had to leave early, but the next day - fit as a flea. Obviously not everyone is going to get it as lightly as I did

We never did get sick pay, well we could have got SSP, but that was a huge drop of income, so we use holiday pay