Long Term SICKNESS NHS

Clutterless16

Help please a very broken mummy. 
For the past 20 years I have worked for the NHS and I am highly experienced. Sadly following a traumatic experience I have been off sick for almost a year. I'm pretty sure I have  PTSD  and am triggered by even the mention of the hospital where I work.

I am just entering my last 3 months of trust sickness pay-which is only statutory sick pay for this period.

My partner and I have always worked and never claimed any benefits so I am completely in the dark about what I might be entitled too.

We have just been awarded  DLA for our oldest child who has autism  amongst other diagnoses.
What are my options?  The financial strain is horrendous and I simply can't have no money coming in from the end of September.

Colleagues have suggested I pursue medical retirement but I don't really know what this involves.

I think I could probably claim carers allowance for our child and I think this means my national insurance contributions get paid. If I found another job I could probably stay under the threshold financially for this. I also need to be at home as much as possible for stability.

It's just heartbreaking that has come to this and I'm facing walking away from a carrer I've invested 20 years in.

Please help.......

Spoonie_Turtle

https://www.entitledto.co.uk/
https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/
These are your starting point.  You can do a calculation based on your circumstances now, and do another based on when you no longer receive SSP to see how the land lies ahead.

Depending on your partner's earnings you may or may not be entitled to UC which is means-tested.  You would need to include the carer element and that you have a health condition limiting your ability to work.

You can claim Carers Allowance for caring for your eldest child.
However you would also be entitled to ESA once your SSP ends, and I'm not sure what the rules are about that and CA as they're overlapping benefits.  The benefits calculator will take that into account.

I can't advise re: medical retirement, sorry, others will know more.

HillStreetBlues

Does your PTSD affect other aspects of your life?
Have a look at PIP and see if you meet the criteria for an award. (You can still get it even if claiming for a care of another).

peteuk

Clutterless16 said:

I'm pretty sure I have  PTSD  and am triggered by even the mention of the hospital where I work.

From your wording it implies you've no diagnosis, it equally sound like your not getting much help.  Reach out to Mental health either through your GP or occupational health.

Could you work for another hospital or in a different area or speciality.

Good luck…

calcotti

Spoonie_Turtle said:

However you would also be entitled to ESA once your SSP ends, and I'm not sure what the rules are about that and CA as they're overlapping benefits.

If new type ESA is claimed the CA would stop and the ESA is worth more.

OP, depending on how your health affects you you might be eligible for PIP.
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/

Spoonie_Turtle

calcotti said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

However you would also be entitled to ESA once your SSP ends, and I'm not sure what the rules are about that and CA as they're overlapping benefits.

If new type ESA is claimed the CA would stop and the ESA is worth more.

Could they claim CA now whilst only receiving SPP?

calcotti

Spoonie_Turtle said:

calcotti said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

However you would also be entitled to ESA once your SSP ends, and I'm not sure what the rules are about that and CA as they're overlapping benefits.

If new type ESA is claimed the CA would stop and the ESA is worth more.

Could they claim CA now whilst only receiving SPP?

Yes. The earnings threshold for CA is £139/week above which CA cannot be received. SSP is £109.40/week so I cannot see any reason to claim CA.

HillStreetBlues

calcotti said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

calcotti said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

However you would also be entitled to ESA once your SSP ends, and I'm not sure what the rules are about that and CA as they're overlapping benefits.

If new type ESA is claimed the CA would stop and the ESA is worth more.

Could they claim CA now whilst only receiving SPP?

Yes. The earnings threshold for CA is £139/week above which CA cannot be received. SSP is £109.40/week so I cannot see any reason to claim CA.

If CA is more than SSP why wouldn't someone claim CA?

Was getting threshold and  amount mixed up.
Thanks poppy12345 for the correction.

poppy12345

calcotti said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

calcotti said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

However you would also be entitled to ESA once your SSP ends, and I'm not sure what the rules are about that and CA as they're overlapping benefits.

If new type ESA is claimed the CA would stop and the ESA is worth more.

Could they claim CA now whilst only receiving SPP?

Yes. The earnings threshold for CA is £139/week above which CA cannot be received. SSP is £109.40/week so I cannot see any reason to claim CA.

Do you mean you can't see any reason not to claim CA? SSP is under the earnings threshold so i can't see why they don't claim CA. Unless the SSP ends very soon and then it may not be worth claiming CA.

HillStreetBlues said:

calcotti said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

calcotti said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

However you would also be entitled to ESA once your SSP ends, and I'm not sure what the rules are about that and CA as they're overlapping benefits.

If new type ESA is claimed the CA would stop and the ESA is worth more.

Could they claim CA now whilst only receiving SPP?

Yes. The earnings threshold for CA is £139/week above which CA cannot be received. SSP is £109.40/week so I cannot see any reason to claim CA.

If CA is more than SSP why wouldn't someone claim CA?

CA is £76.75/week, which isn't more than SSP.

Spoonie_Turtle

poppy12345 said:

calcotti said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

calcotti said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

However you would also be entitled to ESA once your SSP ends, and I'm not sure what the rules are about that and CA as they're overlapping benefits.

If new type ESA is claimed the CA would stop and the ESA is worth more.

Could they claim CA now whilst only receiving SPP?

Yes. The earnings threshold for CA is £139/week above which CA cannot be received. SSP is £109.40/week so I cannot see any reason to claim CA.

Do you mean you can't see any reason not to claim CA? SSP is under the earnings threshold so i can't see why they don't claim CA. Unless the SSP ends very soon and then it may not be worth claiming CA.

HillStreetBlues said:

calcotti said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

calcotti said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

However you would also be entitled to ESA once your SSP ends, and I'm not sure what the rules are about that and CA as they're overlapping benefits.

If new type ESA is claimed the CA would stop and the ESA is worth more.

Could they claim CA now whilst only receiving SPP?

Yes. The earnings threshold for CA is £139/week above which CA cannot be received. SSP is £109.40/week so I cannot see any reason to claim CA.

If CA is more than SSP why wouldn't someone claim CA?

OP says they have 3 months to go.

It would be worth backdating it to either whenever the DLA was awarded or their earnings went below the threshold (maximum of 3 months in that case), whichever is the longest one they can do.

poppy12345

Thanks Spoonie, i missed that one.