SSP help

[guiltynetter]

Not sure if this is the right forum...

My sister has just had a positive covid test. She has a part time cleaning job earning £119.90 a week. Her employer has said she doesn't qualify for SSP (sick pay) as she doesn't do enough hours. Online it says you have to earn £120 a week to qualify. Could she really be turned down for earning 10p a week less? And do you think the company have done this on purpose? It just seems dodgy!

Thank you x

No they are correct. She could try aiming New Style ESA or Universal Credit.

Would you really claim ESA or universal credit for 8 days? I can't believe she's under it by so little.

You didnt say it was 8 days. It could be longer if she is unwell but hopefully not.
They are the benefits available to her. Hope she gets well soon.

The threshold is the threshold. Otherwise it doesn't work.

Does she pay ni?

Sorry last rolo. She isn't unwell now so I think she's assuming she will be back to work after the isolation period is up.

The threshold for receiving NI benefits is lower than the threshold for paying NI contributions. Her employer can pay her enough for her to receive benefits without having to pay the employer NI contributions so it's unlikely this is on purpose - no benefit unless the employer isn't very familiar/confused with this - which is very possible. And the threshold is the threshold regardless of 10p.

What about the self-isolation grant? Is she eligible for that? www.gov.uk/test-and-trace-support-payment

I assume that her income is not the entire income for her / her family - where her other income comes from may make a difference to the circumstances. Is she in receipt of other benefits? Does she have a partner?