| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| maizie |
Posted - 03 July 2009 : 09:52:44
I wonder if anyone can help me. I had early discharge in March of this year. My partner (who wasn't made bankrupt) has just been made redundant (no redundancy money) and the doctor wants me to sign off sick due to depression and exhaustion. I am having weekly meetings with the doctor and the mental health team.
My bosses have said they don't want me signed off sick because they couldn't afford to get a temp in to cover me. They have said they could reduce my working hours and do mornings only but they would reduce my wages to reflect that.
Really worried as to what I can do. If I get signed off sick, they would only pay me statutory sick pay (I think) which I can't afford to live on and pay rent etc. I may be able to claim for disability living allowance but that still wont cover my bills etc. Partner off to job centre on Monday to discuss jobseekers.
Never claimed benefits in my life and Im really scared that if I carry on working (even mornings only) I will burn out. My work is already being affected because I am making mistakes.
I pay an IPA of £63 a month. Any help or advice would really be appreciated as I don't know what to do.
Maizie |
| 9 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Niobe |
Posted - 04 July 2009 : 17:35:06
It probably depends on who you work for and possibly what the problem is.
I had an operation, so was always going to return to full time. I did 4 hours a day for 2 weeks, five hours a day for 1 week and 6 hours a day for the next week and then went back to full time.
I agree that you should contact your manager to see what your firm has set in place.
The glimmer gets brighter all the time
Jan
xx |
| sjbyron |
Posted - 04 July 2009 : 15:12:20
But Mazie I would contact your manager and see if they can arrange a flexible working pattern for you, maybe taking the annual leave into account or dropping one day a week such as Fridays or Wednesdays or consolodating your hours into 3 or 4 days if possible, i.e 3 12.5 hour shifts.
Best of luck
Stu J Byron |
| sjbyron |
Posted - 04 July 2009 : 15:10:38
Thanks Jan
the NHS suggested that as a phased return plan for me, but because the GP Said I was not well enough to return for anything more than 20 hours per week they terminated instead.
I thought other companies did the same, I no my mums and sisters work do, thanks for correcting me Jan.
Stu J Byron |
| Niobe |
Posted - 04 July 2009 : 12:35:19
I have recently returned to work after 4 months off sick. My phased return did not include any of my annual leave and I received full pay, even though I was working part time hours.
I do agree about contacting the union.
The glimmer gets brighter all the time
Jan
xx |
| sjbyron |
Posted - 04 July 2009 : 11:32:36
Hi
Ive just had my contract terminated due to ill health due to anxiety and depression, I am bankrupt too and am on benefits which have channged and dropped, I would suggest talkig to your Employer, as if they offer any counselling services, speak to your GP, see if he suggests a working pattern, how senior position is your job could you go down a rank or two? Or could you move to another department?
Ask if you can go part - time but use your annual leave to make up the shortfall, this is usually done as phased return after sickness but if they dont want you to leave they may be open to negotiation.
I would also contact your Union, just incase things go sour.
Best of luck
Stu J Byron |
| BankruptC |
Posted - 03 July 2009 : 21:44:48
Hey Maizie,
I've emailed you hon.
Keep your chin up. :-)
C. x |
| gettingoutofdebt |
Posted - 03 July 2009 : 13:23:19
Ok, you need to start speaking to people and checking things:
- Does your work have any sickness benefit? The company I work for has some type of long'ish (6 months) term sick benefit depending upon the illness. Speak to your HR rep and explain the issue to them. They may be able to help.
- Contact the RTLU and Moon Beavers to advise that your partner is no longer contributing to your I&E and that you want to complete another I&E. This should stop the IPA and, although this isn't much, it is better than nothing.
- What are your partner's prospects for another job? Does he have any type of mortgage insurance where he can only pay the interest for a couple of months? In either case he needs to speak to the mortgage company and see if he can reduce/stop the payments for a couple of months until he has a chance to regain employment.
Has your partner been to the job centre to advise he is unemployed and wants to claim benefits? If not he should as they may be able to assist in other ways as well especially if you are going to be signed off for a long period of time.
You should also check which benefits you are entitled to. You may get more than just the statutory sick pay.
You're not in a good situation having recently declared BR but you should speak to people sooner rather than later. Also try speaking to the CAB to see if they can provide any advice.
Have a look at the following as it mentions the benefits you may be entitled to: http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/life/benefits/benefits_for_people_who_are_sick_or_disabled.htm
There is also a freephone number to call so it may be worth speaking to them as well. |
| maizie |
Posted - 03 July 2009 : 11:52:28
Thanks for the reply. I have just had two weeks holiday (something bad happened before and during holiday hence reason of me feeling terrible) so I only have 3 days holiday left.
Statutory sick pay only pays £75 a week, and have mortgage (partners mortgage) at £700 a month then theres bills and food so even if my IPA stopped we still wouldn't have enough to live on.
I know my health is more important but Im really scared.
My partners contribution was included on original I&E.
Maizie |
| gettingoutofdebt |
Posted - 03 July 2009 : 11:46:25
The most important thing is your health. If you think you would be able to do the morning hours as suggested by your boss then this is a good option. When your income changes you need to advise the OR/RTLU and this will then reduce/stop your IPA.
I don't know the ins and outs of your depression/exhaustion but speak to your boss and see if you could maybe take a week off work using your holiday allowance to recuperate a bit and then start on the morning hours. It sounds like your boss is supportive and wants you to remain with the company so he should be ok with this.
If the morning hours would be too much then take your doctor's advice and take a few weeks sick leave.
Write to the RTLU and tell them that you are going to be reducing your hours/going sick and that you want to complete a new I&E.
In your original I&E was there a contribution from your partner? If so then you need to tell the RTLU of this immediately and this would affect your DI.
An IPA of £63 would mean that you had a DI of £116, which is only just over the £99 threshold so whatever you decide the IPA should stop as you won't have the DI to pay it. |
