Sick pay coming to an end. Please help

brightondave

Hi, ive worked for a major company for over 10 years and have been signed off by my doctor since late February.
Ive had the meeting with my boss and HR regarding my health situation and have been notified that my sick pay comes to an end this month.
Is the onus on them next for me to be put on SSP or do i have to apply for it myself? Also they want to know what my long term plans are, whether i'll be back or not?  Thankyou for any feedback that might help me.

Undervalued

brightondave said:

Hi, ive worked for a major company for over 10 years and have been signed off by my doctor since late February.
Ive had the meeting with my boss and HR regarding my health situation and have been notified that my sick pay comes to an end this month.
Is the onus on them next for me to be put on SSP or do i have to apply for it myself? Also they want to know what my long term plans are, whether i'll be back or not?  Thankyou for any feedback that might help me.

You have been getting SSP for the whole time you have been off (except for the first three days) as part of the pay you were receiving. I assume your employer has been making that up to your full salary as company sick pay.

The company part stops at some point depending on your contract and your employer's discretion. You have been off for almost five months so I assume your company sick pay stops after six?

SSP ( for which the company has to meet the cost despite the name) lasts for six months (or 28 weeks - I can't remember which). When that runs out you will be eligible to clam ESA directly from the government.

It is very understandable that with a long absence such as this that the employer will want to have discussions about the way forward. 

Edit (typos corrected!) plus chrisbur has helpfully clarified that SSP is for 28 weeks and explained how the ESA process should start below.

chrisbur

Undervalued said:

brightondave said:

Hi, ive worked for a major company for over 10 years and have been signed off by my doctor since late February.
Ive had the meeting with my boss and HR regarding my health situation and have been notified that my sick pay comes to an end this month.
Is the onus on them next for me to be put on SSP or do i have to apply for it myself? Also they want to know what my long term plans are, whether i'll be back or not?  Thankyou for any feedback that might help me.

You have been getting SSP for the whole time you have been off (except for the first three days) as part of the pay you were receiving. I assume you employer has been making that up to you full salary as company sick pay.

The company part stops at some point depending on your contract and your employer's discretion. You have been off for almost five months so I assume your company sick pay stops after six?

SSP ( for which the company has to meet the cost despite the name) lasts for six months (or 28 weeks - I can't remember which). When that runs out you will be eligible to clam ESA directly from the government.

SSP is paid for 28 weeks so assuming there is no previous period which qualified for SSP consideration in the eight weeks before the currant sickness then SSP will end after the three waiting days and 28 weeks of SSP payment.  When this payment is nearing the end the employer should issue an SSP1 form which gives details of what to do about claiming ESA and return any medical certs which cover time after it has ended which will be needed for your ESA claim.  A promt issue of the SSP1 form avoids a delay with ESA after SSP ends.

"If your employee’s SSP is ending you must send them form SSP1 either:

• within 7 days of their SSP ending, if it ends unexpectedly while they’re still sick
• on or before the beginning of the 23rd week, if their SSP is expected to end before their sickness does"

stuhse

Have you been receiving full pay whilst off ?

TBagpuss

As above, thesick pay you have been getting from your employer will have included SSP and it sounds as though your SSP will also be ending as it is available for up to 28 weeks .

If you are still not well enough to return to work then you will need to apply for ESA and/or Universal Credit. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/ and/ or https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/ may be helpful for you to work out what you might be able to claim . This https://www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance/how-to-claim suggest s that while you can't get SSP and ESA at the same time, yo can start your claim for ESA before your SSP ends, presumably to try to avoid any gap while the application is being processed

Mands

You say in another thread that your wife had a stroke in February and that you are 68 and working part time. Is that right?

If so I don't think you can claim ESA as you will already be claiming your state pension. My knowledge of this is not great but the folks on the Benefits board will be able to help and also advise if there's anything else you, as a couple, might be able to claim.

Best of luck with everything,
Mands

brightondave

stuhse said:

Have you been receiving full pay whilst off ?

Yes i have

brightondave

Mands said:

You say in another thread that your wife had a stroke in February and that you are 68 and working part time. Is that right?

If so I don't think you can claim ESA as you will already be claiming your state pension. My knowledge of this is not great but the folks on the Benefits board will be able to help and also advise if there's anything else you, as a couple, might be able to claim.

Best of luck with everything,
Mands

Yes that is right

stuhse

You havent said whats wrong; are you ever going to be well enough to return to work. ?
 

Mands

brightondave said:

Mands said:

You say in another thread that your wife had a stroke in February and that you are 68 and working part time. Is that right?

If so I don't think you can claim ESA as you will already be claiming your state pension. My knowledge of this is not great but the folks on the Benefits board will be able to help and also advise if there's anything else you, as a couple, might be able to claim.

Best of luck with everything,
Mands

Yes that is right

Please repost on the Benefits board and let the regulars there advise you.
 
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/benefits-tax-credits

Mands

stuhse said:

You havent said whats wrong; are you ever going to be well enough to return to work. ?
 

Ever? He's 68. How much longer do you want him to work for?