Help - Unemployed and Doctor has given me a sick line

zincoxide

Ok, I was made unemployed on the 11th of December and have never been in this situation before so I'm completely lost. I'm 28, single and have moved back in with the parents to reduce my living costs.

I'm not sure how to go about claiming for my SSP or what other benefits I may be entitled to, can anyone point me in the right direction? I've had a search around this site and some others and just can't figure out what I should be doing, so I'm feeling very lost at the moment.

My Doctor has given me a sick line for Depression and Anxiety but I don't know who I need to give this to to claim SSP? Can I also claim job seekers allowance at the same time?

Any help would be much appreciated as I'm sure you can understand how this is making me feel at this time of year

dmg24

You need to claim Incapacity Benefit. You cannot claim JSA at the same time, as you are not fit for work.

Your claim for IB will be dependent on you having paid enough NI contributions over the past two years. Alternatively, you will need to claim IB for reason of Incapacity.

If you call your local Jobcentre Plus they will tell you what you need to do.

Hope you get it sorted x

noonesperfect

What a horrible position to be put in just before christmas.

SSP stands for statutory sick pay and is paid to you by your employer if you are off work ill. If you have been made redundant you won't get SSP.

I hope your employer hasn't fired you to avoid paying SSP..........

Sorry I can't be of more help otherwise.:grouphug: XXX

zincoxide

I've just found out I can claim Incapacity Benefit and Income Support by calling 0800 055 6688. They fill out the form for you over the phone then send the documents to sign and then they put your claim through for you.

mrcow

Can you call them now? Or are they closed for the weekend now? At least it would be something off your mind.

dmg24

You cannot claim IB and IS, you can claim one or the other.

If you have been working for the past two years, you can claim IB. If your claim for IB is not successful, they should automatically assess you for IS.

pippin49

Hi, SSP is not payable as your unemployed. Your claim for IB will be suspended for 6 Months but don't worry about that as you will be awarded IS instead. If your health is bad you could consider claiming DLA and appointing one of your parents as a carer. If your assessed as clinically depressed or at risk of self harm (hope not) all sorts of help is available. Wish you all the best.

stazi

Sorry pippin49 your advice about IB being suspended for 6 months, and that IS 'will be awarded' is wrong. You may be thinking of JSA.

Sorry dmg24, you can claim IB and IS (the JCP contact centre will normally take both claims), and depending on ones' circumstances, either/both may be payable, although not always. IB and IS are separate benefits, and need to be separately claimed.

The JCP contact centres may be open on Sat, otherwise it will be next Thurs.

alwaysonthego_2

I think Dmg is correct, a partner can claim IS while your claiming IB though

real1314

DMG is, on this occasion, incorrect. in fact it's often advisable to claim both IS and IB, as it ensures that if you do not qualify for IB, or if your IB claim takes a while to sort out, you can then be paid IS.
If IB is then awarded later, they offset one against the other and pay what's left.
Also, depending on your circumstances, someone may get IS on top of IB, e.g if they receive DLA in any form or rate, which leads to a higher IS rate than the initial IB rate.

stevieglesga

stazi wrote: »

Sorry pippin49 your advice about IB being suspended for 6 months, and that IS 'will be awarded' is wrong. You may be thinking of JSA.

Sorry dmg24, you can claim IB and IS (the JCP contact centre will normally take both claims), and depending on ones' circumstances, either/both may be payable, although not always. IB and IS are separate benefits, and need to be separately claimed.

The JCP contact centres may be open on Sat, otherwise it will be next Thurs.

Hi business as usual on Monday 24th....or should be:rolleyes: