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Original poster

If I quit my job what benefits will I be entitled to?

31 replies

elc19 · 04/02/2020 18:56

I have been signed off for the past 3 weeks as have had my 8th miscarriage, due to go back tomorrow.

I have a long history of mental health, depression and anxiety, also PTSD.

I don't feel I am able to work right now but we cannot survive on no income from me.

Am I being unfair to take 6 months - 1 year off to sort myself out mentally and return to work when I am able to?

I've worked since I was 15 and this makes me feel very ashamed to feel I cannot cope with any work right now, I don't know the first thing about benefits or what I'd be entitled to or how much roughly I would receive.

Any advice would be great xx

OP posts:
Orangeblossom78 · 04/02/2020 18:59

First of all take care of your MH posting here might not be helpful as people may not be as kind -

You can claim ESA if the sick leave has ended. Take care as I think they expect you to take all your sick leave first.

Maybe could take it week by week and see how you go? I hope you get some help Flowers I have been there too.

AwkwardPaws27 · 04/02/2020 19:02

Do not quit - you won't be entitled to anything for a period (can't remember how many months) as they class you as having left voluntarily.

Ask your GP to extend the fit note, keep in contact with your current work. You may end up being dismissed if you are off long-term but if it's done by your employer due to your long-term sickness then you should be able to access benefits straight away.

The entitled to website has a benefit calculator.

carly2803 · 04/02/2020 19:10

dont quit! you wont be entitled to anything

sign off sick, keep doing that, but do not quit - i think its a 3 or 6 month sanction with no benefits anyhow so you would not get anything
your better off sick

sorry for your loss

CakeandCustard28 · 04/02/2020 19:15

Don’t quit, you’ll be entitled to nothing for a minimum of 6 months if not more also if you have a partner they’d take their income into account so you could end up with nothing anyway.
Sign off sick as the other posters have said.

AnyFucker · 04/02/2020 19:17

Keep signed off sick, you will get nothing for a good amount of time if you quit. Take care.

okiedokieme · 04/02/2020 19:27

You need to be signed off work as everyone is saying. Esa is means tested. See if you qualify for pip which is not means tested

Pilot12 · 04/02/2020 19:27

I quit my job a few years ago and wasn't allowed to claim anything for six weeks as they said I made myself intentionally unemployed. If you live with a partner/husband they will include their income in any calculation, if your partner earns over £18,000 per year you'll probably get nothing, if you have a mortgage you won't get anything towards housing. There's a benefits calculator online that you can use to work out if you'll get anything. Like others have said you're better off getting signed off long term sick.

Mlou32 · 04/02/2020 19:31

Could you perhaps go part time to give you a bit of breathing space?

PatellarTendonitis · 04/02/2020 19:34

Another one saying get signed off for longer, don't quit.

MitziK · 04/02/2020 19:35

What you have gone through won't make a jot of difference to the people handling a claim. It should. But it won't.

Go back to your GP and get signed off again.

londonrach · 04/02/2020 19:38

Nothing if you quit for a few weeks. Please revisit the gp and get signed off sick x

coffeeforone · 04/02/2020 19:44

so sorry for your loss. As others have said, I'd go back to your GP, don't quit.

MoaningMinniee · 04/02/2020 19:45

Putting on my employer's hat, long-term sick is a PITA - but that's not your fault, it's the useless government system! Get yourself signed off by your GP.

lengthenmylutealphase · 04/02/2020 19:47

You may qualify for contributions based ESA. Don't quit though. Let them sack you for Ill health.

I'm so sorry for your losses.

WrongKindOfFace · 04/02/2020 19:53

You poor thing. Agree, don’t quit, see the gp and discuss another fit note. At least then you’ll still get SSP.

If the job ends get some proper advice from citizens advice about what to claim. You may be entitled to new style esa if you’ve paid enough NI. Or it might be a UC claim. Or it could be both.

If you are unwell in the longer term it could be worth making a claim for PIP? Hopefully that won’t be necessary.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 04/02/2020 19:56

Don't just quit. You will need to have proof from your doctor that you are unfit for work to be able to claim benefits.

I volunteer at a homeless hostel, many of the residents claim ESA as they cannot work due to MH problems but be warned, it's often a pittance.

CloudsCanLookLikeSheep · 04/02/2020 19:57

HR person here if you can get your employer to dismiss you on the grounds of ill health you will get notice pay plus be able to claim benefits .

Mind you you will have a reference to say dismissed for ill health following you around if you want to work again in the future so do decide if its worth it.

Original poster
elc19 · 04/02/2020 19:58

Thank you everyone.

I didn't plan to just walk, I was going to give in my notice but as my husband earns over £33,000 a year like most of you said I wouldn't be entitled to anything even though we are paying a lot of debt off which leaves us in the minus each month.

I can't afford to be signed off any longer, SSP didn't even help cover our bills this month, just a horrible situation ☹️

I'm going back for 2 weeks on reduced hours so that helps a little. Thank you everyone for being kind xx

OP posts:
StealthMama · 04/02/2020 20:03

@elc19 are you owed an holidays at all that you could take in order to get paid?

Your still entitled to ssp for a while longer if you remain signed off sick, better than nothing I guess 💐

lengthenmylutealphase · 04/02/2020 20:06

I'm sure ESA is less than SSP so you're better off staying signed off sick.
Hopefully the reduced hours helps a bit though.

PatellarTendonitis · 04/02/2020 20:08

HR person here if you can get your employer to dismiss you on the grounds of ill health you will get notice pay plus be able to claim benefits .

Might be able to get 6 months of contribution-based JSA if you have the relevant NI contributions and get dismissed on such grounds, that's £72/week, OP. But that's it. After that it's Universal Credit and you don't qualify as your partner earns too much. You can apply for PIP, but it's extremely hard to get.

DoctorHildegardLanstrom · 04/02/2020 20:10

Its also not just the not getting it, with things like PIP there is up to a two year wait tribunal, assuming you get turned down (which you probably will), I am not sure what the wait is for ESA

Orangeblossom78 · 04/02/2020 20:13

Your DH's income doesn't matter if you claim cont based ESA. that depends on your previous NI conts

I was in the same position after maternity leave a few years ago, it finished and I claimed the ESA instead of going back. I had PND.

I got the notes years later and they (ESA) had contacted the employer asking why wasn't on sick leave and employer said because claiming ESA...anyway would check as was a while back but it worked for me to claim it. It is only about £100 a week though.

SpeckledyHen · 04/02/2020 20:15

OP . Just a suggestion. A visit to the CAB to see a debt specialist might help. There might be a way of changing / reducing the repayments on the debts.

Orangeblossom78 · 04/02/2020 20:24

Oh, try Payplan for debts they are excellent, they can do a plan for you and cut interest. Really good and free.

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