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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Statutory sick pay is abysmal!!!!

28 replies

ihavehadenoughx · 24/03/2022 13:58

This is more of a rant than anything really.

I recently had to take a week and a bit off work because I got written off due to physical problems. I’ve had a few days off in the past too so I don’t think I receive full sick pay anymore.

I usually earn 2000 a month but today have been paid just over 1200. I’m actually really really stressed about how I’m going to live as my rent/bills/food alone is £900.

Surely sick pay shouldn’t be this terrible?! I’m scared to ever be ill or sick in my life now it’s just abysmal

OP posts:
ZippeeDeeDoohDah · 24/03/2022 14:01

Yep.
If people are lucky, their employee benefits are better, but in general sick pay is dreadful.

Lazypuppy · 24/03/2022 14:01

SSP is awful, and don't think it pays firat few days either! One of the things i always look for employers now is full sick pay

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 24/03/2022 14:03

Do you live alone? Are you able to claim any Universal Credit? That would typically rop up any short term short falls.

SmolCat · 24/03/2022 14:07

Along with Ireland, France and Italy we have one of the worse ssp in Europe, but I think it’s good that we have any amount of ssp. It’s £96+ a week, that’s a lot better than nothing!

Do you have savings? It’s good to have a few months wages as savings as a buffer for these sort of shit life events. I appreciate that’s easier said than done, but it’s something to aim and might help you feel less worried.

Cornettoninja · 24/03/2022 14:07

This has been the case for years and years. I’m mildly surprised you didn’t know tbh.

None of that takes away from the fact that you’re absolutely right. Sickness has been a luxury in employment forever and no one seems interested in changing that.

Moderate/chronic illness doesn’t exist in the workplace. If you’re not ill enough to leave permanently then you should be in work according to the mentality of society.

BarbaraofSeville · 24/03/2022 14:08

No it isn't very much but you're always advised to have savings and/or insurance to cover any loss of income.

If your rent, bills and food only take up £900 out of a £2k income, surely you can afford to put something aside for this purpose?

TooMuchPaper · 24/03/2022 14:16

I usually earn 2000 a month but today have been paid just over 1200. I’m actually really really stressed about how I’m going to live as my rent/bills/food alone is £900.

If rent, bills and food come to £900 and you have been paid £1,200 then that is a surplus of £300. What other outgoings do you have to pay from that £300?

PinkFluffyUnicornSlippers · 24/03/2022 14:19

That’s awful! I take it you’re private sector rather than public. I’m in the NHS and due to length of service I get 6 months full pay and 6 months half pay for sickness. Tbh, it’s worth the slightly lower pay given that I’ve got a long term health condition. Maybe it’s time to think about working somewhere with a better sick package as that sounds so crap Flowers

AperolWhore · 24/03/2022 14:43

It is terrible and I’m unsure how people are supposed to survive on it.

We have a sinking fund saved up that covers three months worth of all bills etc for this exact reason and I suggest you start to put a little something aside for this once you are back on your feet x

Original poster
ihavehadenoughx · 24/03/2022 14:44

Paper, I haven’t even factored in petrol which usually costs me around £150 a month. Then phone bill, toiletries, any form of socialising :/

I do have some savings but not loads. It’s frustrating as I was using it to save for a deposit and now the hard work is going to be depleted as it’s all going to go now

OP posts:
MojoMoon · 24/03/2022 14:50

It is very low

Lots of people insure against sickness - either self insurance through putting money aside to always maintain 3-6 months of living cost. Or by taking out actual insurance that pays your salary when you are off sick.

Of course if you are low income, both are hard to do.

daimbarsatemydogsbone · 24/03/2022 14:52

I sympathise - at various times in my life I've had savings "rainy day fund" - and it always seems to get wiped out faster than I can replenish the bastard by "once in a lifetime" events :(

SmolCat · 24/03/2022 14:52

@ihavehadenoughx

Paper, I haven’t even factored in petrol which usually costs me around £150 a month. Then phone bill, toiletries, any form of socialising :/

I do have some savings but not loads. It’s frustrating as I was using it to save for a deposit and now the hard work is going to be depleted as it’s all going to go now

Do you think you might be catastrophising a bit? Your OP suggests you’re back at work now, it’s just this one month that you’re short. And actually you’re not even short, you have £150. Cut back on socialising this month and cross your fingers for no unexpected financial situations like your car breaking down and you won’t even need to touch your savings. (Let along deplete a whole house deposits worth!)

Unless there’s a massive drip feed like you’re planning on going sick and needing ssp for the next 6months?

SevenWaystoLeave · 24/03/2022 15:05

Yes, it's absolutely abysmally shit, and I'm still paying off debts accrued from more than 2 years ago when I was undergoing cancer treatment and off work for a few months. Heaps of added stress at a time in your life when you least need it, and huge pressure on me to go back to work sooner than I should have.

I now work for an employer who offers a much more generous period of full pay when you're sick, but hopefully won't need to use it.

Seasidemumma77 · 24/03/2022 15:18

I had to return to work 7weeks earlier than advised after hysterectomy, I couldn't survive on SSP.

YorkshirePuddingsGreatestFan · 24/03/2022 15:59

I was on it long term when I couldn't work because I was shielding during lockdowns. It wasn't enough to live on and I ended up putting stuff on my credit card which I'm still paying back.

It's quite frustrating that I've worked since leaving school and paid in for years but when I needed a hand, I didn't have enough money to live on.

Yotrotro · 24/03/2022 16:19

You do realise many people don't have £150-300 spare a month in normal circumstances? SSP is shite but chances are you won't have spent as much on petrol or socialising whilst Ill anyway, and for one month you can cut back a bit. Eat a bit cheaper, less expensive activities, walk more than take the car if you can. You shouldn't need to dip into your savings much, if at all.

Most company sick pay is renewed after a year so might be worth putting some aside in normal wage months so you have a buffer for future if it's likely you'll be off again.

MurmuratingStarling · 24/03/2022 16:35

Agree it's disgusting. DH has been at his current workplace for 18 years and STILL only gets shitty fucking SSP when he is off. He has had to go in (over the years) even when he's dying on his arse, as he doesn't get paid if he doesn't turn up. And if he off for more than a week, and his pay reverts to SSP, it's a QUARTER of his 'normal' take-home pay. A QUARTER. Hmm

Like some other pps, he has gone back to work way before he is ready because we can't survive on wanky SSP. After an employee has been at a workplace for a certain amount of time (say 5 years,) they should get full pay when they're off sick. This should apply to EVERYONE.

We have been mortgage free for a few years now, and have no DC at home, so things are less 'tight' than they used to be, but we would still struggle if he were off for a number of months.

I know a few people who are 'salaried' - and always have been - who say 'I couldn't live like that.' SO rude. SOME people have no fucking choice! Hmm

Itsbackagain · 24/03/2022 16:46

If you've used up your company sick pay you must have had more than a few days off in the last 12 months?

QforCucumber · 24/03/2022 16:54

@Itsbackagain not all companys offer company sick pay you know? Mine doesn't, first 3 days unpaid and after that its £96.35/week.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 24/03/2022 16:56

[quote QforCucumber]@Itsbackagain not all companys offer company sick pay you know? Mine doesn't, first 3 days unpaid and after that its £96.35/week.[/quote]
The OP says her company does and she's used it all

LeedleLee · 24/03/2022 17:13

Agreed, it is awful. I don't get paid at all for the first five days of sickness, and then only SSP after that. SSP is less than a quarter of my usual weekly salary.

Thankfully I don't have any chronic health problems and am not ill very often. But it seems like people with chronic health issues that still want to work are punished for being unwell, which is so unfair.

ChoiceMummy · 24/03/2022 17:59

@ihavehadenoughx

This is more of a rant than anything really.

I recently had to take a week and a bit off work because I got written off due to physical problems. I’ve had a few days off in the past too so I don’t think I receive full sick pay anymore.

I usually earn 2000 a month but today have been paid just over 1200. I’m actually really really stressed about how I’m going to live as my rent/bills/food alone is £900.

Surely sick pay shouldn’t be this terrible?! I’m scared to ever be ill or sick in my life now it’s just abysmal

You must have had a significant amount of time off previously, to now be on ssp if they offer enhanced sick pay.

Have you checked that you have definitely exhausted all of this as per the policy and that the deductions are accurate?

Most HR teams will alert colleagues when they are nearing the limit.

AfraidToRun · 24/03/2022 18:38

It's ridiculous. I have a chronic health problem I don't know how I'd cope with the uncertainty without the support I have from friends and family. My condition is worsened by ignoring my symptoms but getting on with life anyway but employment rights generally don't appreciate that.