Employee diagnosed with cancer

[Lovelynewboots]

Hoping someone can help. I am bookkeeper and deal with the payroll for a small playgroup which is run as a charity. One of the employees has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and is going to be off work for some time. I have gone onto the direct gov website and as far as I can see she is not entitled to SSP as she only earned just over £3k last tax year. What can I do to help and what is she entitled to. I don't know what is in her contract of employment as this is dealt with by the chair. This is something that has just arisen today so I am just trying to arm myself with facts.

Can you speak to Citizen's Advice Bureau? Also there must be something on one of those direct.gov websites that can point you in the right direction. Or give them a call - they are actually quite helpful. Good luck - it's a minefield.

or ACAS

I wonder if one of the cancer charities could help? It's not a very nice thing to have to ask but unfortunately all too common. I had a look on the Breast Cancer Care website and came across this section on financial advice which includes some for employers. Hopefully there might be some useful guidance in there.

I hope your colleague makes a full recovery in time.

If she hasn't been in touch already, Macmillan have been advertising a lot round here about help with practical things like finance when people get a cancer diagnosis

That sounds much better advice than mine

thanks for your help, have contacted Macmillan and just waiting for them to get back to me.