Family member has been on SSP for 5mths due to a bad fall/subsequent injury. They recently started back at work on a phased return (50% of contracted daily hours- they were part time anyway so on some days this is only 2hrs) and, as they are working every day they are contracted to, albeit at reduced hours, their employer has advised that they are not entitled to any further SSP, just their salary for the hours that they're working.
The phased return is due to last around 8wks, to be reviewed weekly, and there have already been setbacks and some days have had to work less than 50% so it is potentially going to take longer to get back to normal hours. There is no way they can change the phased return (e.g. do their normal hours on 2 days to get SSP on the other 3 days) or return to work at their full contracted hours but neither can they afford to take the cut in pay.
Is there anything that they can claim to subsidise the phased return? Had looked into ESA but it looks like, as they're not incapable of work, as they're just on phased/reduced duties on the doctors fit note, that they do not meet the criteria.