SSP ended, what next

rookie4ever

So I'm 40, a basic teacher and on work related stress leave. I've had a job ever since I was 16. Be this part time when studying full time. Or full time when not.

I've been speaking to my union, as the school said I need to stop letting the kids down (the union interupted whilst I had a mini  breakdown. The only thing they have done about the toxic line manager was to "change" my line manager - although I still have to report to toxic person. And then she's got a promotion both before I went on leave and now she's getting another one (nepotism is fun).

So far 2 people have left because of her continous bullying and setting up others to fail. My doctor, their occupational health nurse (because my doctor wasn't qualified apparently) and my therapist stated it was not fit to go back to work. Don't understand why the school have done nothing in the first 5 months. Even if they had reached out and provided options in the first month that was gone when I knew that would ignore any future concerns like they were doing to my union rep. 5 months of ignoring emails.

It's been 6 months, school have sent emails to tell the union to wait, then 5 months later (whilst I'm on SSP) stated that they would generously give me 3 months (no reference - key for the whole situation). I'm already living on my life savings (to think I had a retirement plan ...). My union responded and I asked for full pay to my last day as an employee with them as well as a reference double checked by my union (I naively thought they started a dialogue they will negotiate). They have made me wait months, ignoring the fact that I have a mortgage to pay (thank you Liz Truss that tripled so had to move to interest only when my term ran out), knowing I cannot work, and now my SSP has run out.

My questions ultimately is, what do I do next, do I keep getting fit notes just hoping they will resolve soon because I need that reference and apply for ESA or universal credit - although I'm worried they'll say I have enough savings so don't qualify.

I could expand on the injustice of the situation which I'm sure many of us have been in at one time or another, but just want to know what the next steps, I don't have the money to take a fight with the school academy, as they will probably have much more expensive lawyers, etc. I just want to know what next steps I should take.

UPDATE: union have spoken to lawyers who are giving a different take on what is happening so will have to chek with union next week. If not will be looking at ESA. Thank you all

Torry_Quine

After six months of SSP your employer should give you a form to claim ESA. This is not means tested but you will be assessed for it to determine if entitlement should continue and which group. 

Marcon

rookie4ever said:

So I'm 40, a basic teacher and on work related stress leave. I've had a job ever since I was 16. Be this part time when studying full time. Or full time when not.

I've been speaking to my union, as the school said I need to stop letting the kids down (the union interupted whilst I had a mini  breakdown. The only thing they have done about the toxic line manager was to "change" my line manager - although I still have to report to toxic person. And then she's got a promotion both before I went on leave and now she's getting another one (nepotism is fun).

So far 2 people have left because of her continous bullying and setting up others to fail. My doctor, their occupational health nurse (because my doctor wasn't qualified apparently) and my therapist stated it was not fit to go back to work. Don't understand why the school have done nothing in the first 5 months. Even if they had reached out and provided options in the first month that was gone when I knew that would ignore any future concerns like they were doing to my union rep. 5 months of ignoring emails.

It's been 6 months, school have sent emails to tell the union to wait, then 5 months later (whilst I'm on SSP) stated that they would generously give me 3 months (no reference - key for the whole situation). I'm already living on my life savings (to think I had a retirement plan ...). My union responded and I asked for full pay to my last day as an employee with them as well as a reference double checked by my union (I naively thought they started a dialogue they will negotiate). They have made me wait months, ignoring the fact that I have a mortgage to pay (thank you Liz Truss that tripled so had to move to interest only when my term ran out), knowing I cannot work, and now my SSP has run out.

My questions ultimately is, what do I do next, do I keep getting fit notes just hoping they will resolve soon because I need that reference and apply for ESA or universal credit - although I'm worried they'll say I have enough savings so don't qualify.

I could expand on the injustice of the situation which I'm sure many of us have been in at one time or another, but just want to know what the next steps, I don't have the money to take a fight with the school academy, as they will probably have much more expensive lawyers, etc. I just want to know what next steps I should take.

Focussing on your own health is, I hope, one of the next steps you have in mind.

Why is your union being so passive if this is all as dreadful as you say? Why aren't they advising you on what to do next? Isn't that the whole point of pays your sub to a union?

Undervalued

Torry_Quine said:

After six months of SSP your employer should give you a form to claim ESA. This is not means tested but you will be assessed for it to determine if entitlement should continue and which group. 

ESA is (or certainly was in my day) in two parts. Contribution based, which as you say is not means tested, and income based which is means tested.

The OP would almost certainly be entitled to the former but may well not be eligible for the latter.

Again, I may be out of date, but providing the doctor keeps issuing sick notes the OP should get at least contribution based ESA initially, maybe for up to three months, during which time they will have to attend a medical assessment. Basically that assesses whether the OP is fit for ANY work rather than just unfit for the job from which they are off sick.

rookie4ever

Torry_Quine said:

After six months of SSP your employer should give you a form to claim ESA. This is not means tested but you will be assessed for it to determine if entitlement should continue and which group. 

I wish they had, they didn't. But will be looking at ESA, thank you

rookie4ever

Marcon said:

rookie4ever said:

So I'm 40, a basic teacher and on work related stress leave. I've had a job ever since I was 16. Be this part time when studying full time. Or full time when not.

I've been speaking to my union, as the school said I need to stop letting the kids down (the union interupted whilst I had a mini  breakdown. The only thing they have done about the toxic line manager was to "change" my line manager - although I still have to report to toxic person. And then she's got a promotion both before I went on leave and now she's getting another one (nepotism is fun).

So far 2 people have left because of her continous bullying and setting up others to fail. My doctor, their occupational health nurse (because my doctor wasn't qualified apparently) and my therapist stated it was not fit to go back to work. Don't understand why the school have done nothing in the first 5 months. Even if they had reached out and provided options in the first month that was gone when I knew that would ignore any future concerns like they were doing to my union rep. 5 months of ignoring emails.

It's been 6 months, school have sent emails to tell the union to wait, then 5 months later (whilst I'm on SSP) stated that they would generously give me 3 months (no reference - key for the whole situation). I'm already living on my life savings (to think I had a retirement plan ...). My union responded and I asked for full pay to my last day as an employee with them as well as a reference double checked by my union (I naively thought they started a dialogue they will negotiate). They have made me wait months, ignoring the fact that I have a mortgage to pay (thank you Liz Truss that tripled so had to move to interest only when my term ran out), knowing I cannot work, and now my SSP has run out.

My questions ultimately is, what do I do next, do I keep getting fit notes just hoping they will resolve soon because I need that reference and apply for ESA or universal credit - although I'm worried they'll say I have enough savings so don't qualify.

I could expand on the injustice of the situation which I'm sure many of us have been in at one time or another, but just want to know what the next steps, I don't have the money to take a fight with the school academy, as they will probably have much more expensive lawyers, etc. I just want to know what next steps I should take.

Focussing on your own health is, I hope, one of the next steps you have in mind.

Why is your union being so passive if this is all as dreadful as you say? Why aren't they advising you on what to do next? Isn't that the whole point of pays your sub to a union?

Yes totally, it's only when I started doing it that I realised how down I had been, did get told by the nurse I was depressed and needed medication due to how I was feeling is what shoke me into knowing that I need to leave, and I'm hoping that this never happens again and I can see the red flags before anything occurs.

Teaching unions are not that strong, especially when there is a representative in the school as they have to chose between career progression and standing up for members, the school are literally ignoring everyone. The union are speaking to the schools lawyers who have also advised that the school is not responding to them either. Just appears to be unprofessional and I have no idea what they are doing.