Pay problems in a minimum wage job

[dustybluebell]

Morning, just looking for some advice.
I work in a minimum wage job.
Recently I have been working overtime. Spread over 2 months (20 hours in total to date). I didn't get the overtime last month as missed the pay cutoff date, so was expecting a nice bit extra in my pay packet this month, only I have checked today and I'm about to be paid less this month than a normal month. Why would that be? Tax NI, pension?? I am normally deducted £10 for pension each month anyway, but can't understand why all those hours have been worked for, in essence nothing! I cannot view my pay slip until tomorrow to check but wondered if anyone can guess why. Thanks. Oh also have covid(been off all last week) and I don't get paid if off sick (only gov statutory)

It could be the unpaid absence but yes if it's pushed you over the tax free allowance its probably tax- welcome to the wonderful world of doing more work for less.

@Lampshading

It could be the unpaid absence but yes if it's pushed you over the tax free allowance its probably tax- welcome to the wonderful world of doing more work for less.

How does going over the tax free allowance mean doing more work for less? You're only taxed on the part over the allowance so, if 20%, you're still getting the 80% of the extra so still substantially more.

It's more than likely the unpaid absence, sounds like that will outstrip the extra hours you did.

SSP is £96 a week so on mim wage around 10hours of normal pay rate, plus 20 hours extra is only 30h pay if you normally work 40 then going to be a gap still.

On positive side if you hadn’t done any over time you be much worse off….

So you've done an extra 20 hours paid, but also had what 35 hours unpaid - that's what the difference is surely!

can you post the amounts?

Gross: xx
NI: xx
Tax: xx
(anything else?)

When is the cut off date ?

How many hours a week do you normally work?

Is the amount over been paid about right for no overtime, 1 week SSP? ie have they still not added in the OT?

Thank you for all your replies. @PrincessNikla @Akire @titchy @Lampshading @Bedsheets4knickers @Drivingish @MaizeAmaze
I really should have waited until today to give all the facts.
I was just angry yesterday and felt like I have worked those extra hours for nothing. It's true that if I hadn't have worked the OT I would be worse off and I am actually grateful I did there hours.
I just want to make sure I'm being paid what I'm owed and not being made a fool of.
So the payslip says..
Basic pay £793.55
OT £124.74
Comp sick pay £25.28 (not sure what this is as my company do not pay sick pay)
Sick pay offset -20 hours = -£178.20
SSP £19.27
Pension £10.59
I work 25 hours a week. I have been working an extra 5 hours every week since 7th Dec.
So why have I only been paid £19.27 in SSP when I have been off for 4 days (20 hours so far?)
Thank you if you've got this far.
I really appreciate any guidance/advice/help.
I have emailed HR and been told they can't help and I need to discuss with my line manager who is not that approachable, but I will have to, to sort this out. Thanks again.

So SSP and company sick pay is £44.50
If your contact says we don’t pay you for first 3 days (which is standard) then after that it’s SSP. Would mean if you off for week 3 unpaid 2 paid at rate of £96 over 5 days

I make that £19.20 ssp a day you got just over twice that. As only paid you sick rate for 2 days not the weekly rate.

So don’t think short changed you unless you have no exclusion for first 3 sick days then you should have got £96 for week.

The £96 a week is misleading as you have to be off for 10 days to get the weekly payment.

That’s with weekend

I thought if the sick period was due to covid SSP kicked in from day one rather than day 4 as it normally would?

Just checked you are right, long as OP put in fit note at right time you allowed to self certify for covid. Your manager needs to tell you what’s been paid or not. Did you sent in sick note?

Thanks Akire. I really appreciate your help.
I'm off with covid, and I'm told that we get paid SSP from day one because its covid. I'm due back on friday the latest, 10 days isolation will be over then. I can't go back sooner as still testing positive .
I'll chat to my boss and check what's what when I go back. Was good just to get some clarification and you've helped with that.

I have sent through the NHS texts and photos of tests

To my boss I mean.