Finances question after mental health diagnosis

[Unhappymumma]

Hi. So my husband suffered a breakdown over the summer and was diagnosed with psychotic depression. He's on medication and is under the care of the early intervention team & a psychiatrist etc. He's doing extremely well & they say he's made a miraculous recovery. We caught it in time before the psychosis became too bad.
Anyway, so far he has been off work for approximately 6 months. For at least 6 months prior to that he did the bare minimum work wise and it went unnoticed as he worked from home. So he has basically been here at home not really working for a year now.
He had made plans to start working again now in January, but now the time has come he still isn't ready and just keeps extending his sick note. His work have been wonderful.
The nurse we see from early intervention keeps telling him don't worry about work, dont go back too soon etc. This is all fine and good, but he is now on half pay, soon to reducing again on a sliding scale down to statutory sick pay. He is the main earner in our family and our outgoings are most of his wages.
What the hell do we do and do others do in this situation? Forcing him to go back before he is ready could cause him to relapse. But likewise, he can't stay off forever because we have a family to support.
My earning capacity is limited and I can't earn even a quarter of what he does. We aren't entitled to benefits. We have a small savings pot that we really don't want to have to use. Any advice?

Does he have occupational health at his work? At my work they do and our company policy is full pay even on a phased return (as it's signed off by occupation health and it's a reasonable adjustment). Some people come back on phased returns over 3-6 months depending what they've been off for, my colleague did after a mental health issue. I think she did a few months for her phased return, starting at one day a week and going up a day every few weeks until 5 days back in and on slightly lighter duties.

Is this something he can explore or check his company policy for? Do you have any sort of income protection insurance or anything similar that could help?

His work haven't said anything about that to him at all. I know they does have occupational health though. I shall tell him to look in to it. Thanks

In my experience occupational health are meant to help people getting back to work after being on long term sick. They are supposed to assist with things like phased return, making reasonable adjustments to the role to allow someone to come back. Especially after something like that, it won't be easy to go back.
Get in touch with them. When it happened to me I actually had to ask to get referred, it didn't happen automatically.

He could apply for PIP.

Phased return, start back just for one shorter day, then 2 shorter days, then 3. Might suit him?

Definitely a phased return but it’s also worth remembering that he’ll have accumulated annual leave during his time off sick so will probably have a few weeks of that which will be at full pay. It is really hard though - I’m in the same position as your husband and scared witless about what to do about return.

I’d say phased return, people in my work have done 2/3 hours a day for weeks, then 3/4hrs etc, has to come from occupational health though

Whoever is doing his sick note can add a recommendation for a phased return / amended duties / occ health involvement, that’s sometimes helpful in opening up that conversation with his employers

Is there any chance you could do more to increase your earning capacity? What if he's too unwell to return to this level of salary? Definitely look into what would happen with benefits and your entitlement.

I would double check regarding the SSP as that often seems to be paid initially for 28 weeks. Once SSP has ended then he can claim new style ESA ( contributions based ESA) even if still receiving half pay as occupational pay. His employer should provide him with an SSP1 form when SSP is ending. You could also look at PIP which is non means tested and can be claimed whilst working if he has difficulties with certain activities.

Does the EIP team have an IPS worker who could work with his employer around this?

Thank you for your advise, I will speak to him about it today and we will make a few phonecalls