Illness, SSP, ESA? Can anyone please advise if my mum is entitled?

[Helpies]

My mum is mid 50s.
Her health has been deteriorating over the last few years. She's had heart problems, blood pressure, fainting spells, palpitations...

It's gotten worse and it's accumulated into anxiety about work which raises her blood pressure etc. She has made the decision she cannot work anymore as she literally feels like she is on the verge of something serious happening with her physical health.

She has worked for the last 25 years.

Shes looked at SSP (unfortunately she recently moved jobs so hasn't been there long)

It looks like it won't be enough to pay her bills and mortgage.

Can she claim PIP alongside SSP?

She may be able to scrape by with both

Or if not can she quit and immediately apply for ESA and PIP?

I've been trying to find out but am going round in circles.

Thanks.

Get an appointment with CAB and get some proper benefits advice.

Afaik PIP is non means tested and can be claimed along side other benefits. She may not get it though, it depends if the dwp think she's disabled enough. It's notoriously difficult to get for mental health issues.

Contributions based ESA is still available if she has paid enough NI but it's only about £74 per week. She could get that for around 6 months and then she'd be asked to claim universal credit (unless she has been awarded severe disability premium which is unlikely)

I'd advise her not to quit but to get a doctors line and be off sick otherwise it looks like she's making herself voluntarily unemployed.

If she's claiming PIP or ESA she will be sent for an assessment and may be found fit to work even if she doesn't feel she is.

Tbh it's probably unrealistic to expect to be able to pay your mortgage and bills etc while on benefits. As unfair as that sounds if you're unwell . That's why we have a lot of poor and homeless people.
I'd always advise to stay employed if at all possible. Reducing hours or some time off sick to recuperate may be an option?

I thought making yourself voluntarily unemployed only went against you with JSA

Not ESA?

It's not just mental health, she's very poorly physically. She's been taken to hospital twice from work with her heart issues.

Obviously it will be a struggle she's just trying to figure out what she would be entitled to if her doctor agrees it's got to the point she can't work anymore.

She may not be entitled to ESA though. The dwp seem to be saying more people than ever are 'fit to work'. I heard that from the horses mouth at a meeting recently.
SSP I believe is more money than ESA anyway so staying employed as long as possible would be the better option.
If she's been taken to hospital twice recently then she should be able to get a fit note and be off sick for a while.
I am not however a welfare advisor, I just work in the field.

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/before-claiming/check-you-are-eligible/

Does she work f/t currently? Shed be much better off reducing hours if poss and getting some treatment for her anxiety rather than quitting work totally. She could potentially claim PIP whilst still working as it's not means tested but the threshold is quite high and she may not score enough points to claim. Would be best off making an appointment with CAB in the first instance to discuss but could maybe take some sick leave in the meantime if some time off might help.

Yes, you can claim PIP alongside SSP/whilst working or also alongside ESA. There are different types of ESA. As PP have said best go to CAB to get advice for your mum's situation.

Thankyou synec for answering the question x

PIP she can claim now, it's not an out of work benefit.

The problem with ESA is while she may not be able to do her job, they will often asses her as being able to do A job.

Oh and try your local council see if you have a welfare rights section. I thought they all did but I recommend them to someone before and she said they didn't have one. Call the councils and ask, welfare rights are really clouded up and will even got to appeals if you have to drag it that far

Urgh. They are clued up, not clouded

Thanks I'm going to take her to CAB and to her GP to figure out the best course of action.

Just had a quick look and ssp can be paid for 28 weeks so she's best doing that and exploring PIP separately by getting professional help to fill in the forms.

The new style ESA form is in 2 parks. Physical health and mental health. She needs to score 15 points to get an award. If she scores 15 points in two questions she will have limited capability for work and receive 73.10 a week. If she has limited capability for work related activity (used to be called support group) she will get an extra 37 a week after 13 weeks. She would need to get 15 points in 1 question to be placed in that group. She can only get new style esa if she has paid enough ni in the last 2 years. Otherwise she has to apply for universal credit. Same kind of system but based on household income.

For PIP she will need to have had a condition for at least 3 months and expect it to last longer than 9 months.

You will find the descriptors/ details of questions asked at pip info.net or esainfo.net. Also on CAB website.

Don’t forget if her income goes down to check for council tax reduction

Good luck to your mum op. It must be very stressful for her.

Sorry new style esa Dan only be paid if employer provides an ssp1 firm explaining why she’s not entitled to statutory sick pay. Otherwise she can apply after 28 weeks when it ends.

I would strongly advise that she does not quit until she has accessed good, reliable advice in real life.

I would also strongly advise this is very unlikely to come from cab in my experience.

Instead I would advise she contact her local welfare rights office, they are usually located in or near the social services dept within your local council.

Currently the situation is that it greatly varies around the country whether a claimant is better off claiming ESA or UC or indeed what is available to be claimed in your local area.

I've found the welfare rights advisors are far more knowledgable about the local situation (including waiting periods) and on benefits generally.

It is INCREDIBLY difficult to claim on the main basis of mh issues and it's getting harder.

In theory she should potentially be eligible for ESA, pip, council tax benefit, possibly some help with mortgage (though that's very hit and miss and generally they'll only cover interest)

In reality in all likelihood her initial claim will be rejected and she'll have to go through the appeals process, during which time she'll be lucky to get anything.

A good advisor will know their local decision makers and be able to advise the best order of doing things and best timings (they also know things like when certain people are on maternity leave etc, it really makes a difference), they will also be experienced in dealing with the appeals process - you REALLY need someone good at this.

I would also very much advise BEFORE she even starts down the road which could massively reduce her income that she cuts out all unnecessary outgoings bearing in mind she may need to give at least a months notice for most bills, and cuts back on essentials where possible. This would make things marginally easier initially.