WTF do I do?

vipersnest1 · 2022-04-24T19:11:25+00:00

I've been off work sick for six months. I'm not really well enough to return to work, but I can't afford to be off any longer. Luckily I'm not on SSP, but I'm now on half pay. I don't know which way to turn and feel a bit lost. I'm waiting for appointments with neurology and pain management (neither materialising in the near future), and also have a referral to gynaecology for an unrelated issue, which will involve an operation with a recovery period of at least six weeks. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Squiff70 · 24/04/2022 20:35

Do what I did: ring in work and say "I've run out of sick days so I'm ringing in dead."

Seriously though, I have no sensible advice. Can you manage on half pay? Can you apply for benefits such as Universal Credit? PIP?

I really hope your health issues can be resolved and that you're feeling better soon.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 24/04/2022 20:37

Is there anyone else in your house bringing in a salary? Can you look into claiming any benefits?

Original poster

vipersnest1 · 24/04/2022 20:57

I have an adult DC who is living with me, but won't be much longer.
Sorry if this is a drip feed, but I'm very wary of making a PIP claim as I know how difficult that can be. (DC living with me has a disability and we had to go through the whole rigmarole of transitioning from DLA to PIP. They only got their award after a mandatory reconsideration, which was very difficult for me as I wrote the response letter.)
I can't manage on half pay for the long term, and have found out recently that for me to qualify for my full work pension, I'd have to work for another 18 years. That's not realistic for me when I can't even manage keeping in top of my own house / garden.

OP posts:

Babyroobs · 24/04/2022 21:27

If you don't have savings over 16k then you should look at claiming Universal credit. Whether you will receive anything though will depend on savings, whether you have rent to pay, and how much your half pay actually equates to each month. You can hand in sick notes to UC and wait to be assessed for work capability if your condition is longer term. If awarded limited capability for work or limited capability for work and work related activity, this will increase your chances of receiving UC as you would get a work allowance on your claim meaning a certain amount of earnings would be disregarded before your total Uc award is reduced by earnings/ half pay.

Original poster

vipersnest1 · 24/04/2022 21:32

That's the catch, though,@Babyroobs.
I fell down the stairs recently as a result of my condition.
If it's wasn't for the pain that I am in, I might be able to go back to work - but my NHS physio doesn't want to work with me anymore until I have seen a neurologist, and I can't do that for around four months...

OP posts:

Babyroobs · 24/04/2022 21:35

vipersnest1 · 24/04/2022 21:32

That's the catch, though,@Babyroobs.
I fell down the stairs recently as a result of my condition.
If it's wasn't for the pain that I am in, I might be able to go back to work - but my NHS physio doesn't want to work with me anymore until I have seen a neurologist, and I can't do that for around four months...

You should definitely consider PIP. I know you say you have had a difficult time with your daughters claim but many people are awarded it without problems, especially with good medical letters etc to back it up.

Original poster

vipersnest1 · 24/04/2022 21:54

@Babyroobs, thank you for replying.
I know I need to consider applying for PIP. I'm feeling very defeated by it all - I'm trying to find carers for my DM and failing.
And then there's all the other people telling me to consider medical retirement when it won't even cover my costs to live where I do.

OP posts:

Iamtired2022 · 24/04/2022 22:01

I used to work with someone who had 6 months and went back for 2 days and then had another 6 months full pay. This was 20 years ago and she knew what she was doing and wasn't really unwell just made up some issue and 6 months off! Not sure if this is allowed now but if it is, could you manage a few days to then get full pay again?

Thepowerofthelook · 24/04/2022 22:18

This happened to me several years ago.
Are you in a union? My union really helped with benefits advice as well as how to handle the work situation (even gave me a grant for some equipment I needed due to disability). I was advised to apply for esa and pip when my pay went down to half. I couldn't go back to work and was eventually dismissed on ill health grounds and then applied for my ill health pension (I was 36 at the time). I did also then go on to claim uc too. Whatever you do don't resign from your job if it comes to it let them dismiss you.
Also keep proof of everything medical and document every time you chase after a hospital appointment and also ring and say you'll do short notice cancellation appointments.

Babyroobs · 24/04/2022 22:21

Thepowerofthelook · 24/04/2022 22:18

This happened to me several years ago.
Are you in a union? My union really helped with benefits advice as well as how to handle the work situation (even gave me a grant for some equipment I needed due to disability). I was advised to apply for esa and pip when my pay went down to half. I couldn't go back to work and was eventually dismissed on ill health grounds and then applied for my ill health pension (I was 36 at the time). I did also then go on to claim uc too. Whatever you do don't resign from your job if it comes to it let them dismiss you.
Also keep proof of everything medical and document every time you chase after a hospital appointment and also ring and say you'll do short notice cancellation appointments.

All SSP has to have been paid to make a claim for new style ESA ( contributions based ESA ). I'm not sure where op is up to in terms of SSP or whether it is being paid with her half pay as some employers seem to. SSP should run for 28 weeks.

Interested in this thread?