Can You Claim Benefits If You Are Dismissed Due To Ill Health?

If you are wondering whether or not you can claim benefits if you are dismissed from work due to ill health, you will find the answer to your question in the following article; along with detailed guidance on the eligibility criteria for benefits, the supportive evidence you may need and how to proceed in such a situation.

Can You Claim Benefits If You Are Dismissed Due To Ill Health?

Yes, you can claim benefits if you are dismissed from work due to ill health. The benefits you can claim in this case will depend on whether you:

• find it difficult to perform everyday tasks or move around
• are unable to work due to your sickness or disability
• are on a low income or have no income due to ill health and inability to work

In case of any of the above factors, you will need to provide supportive evidence to prove that you are unable to work due to ill health. This includes a doctor’s note and details of your medical condition. In addition to this, you will also need to undergo a medical assessment organised by the DWP.

The eligibility criteria for claiming benefits depend on your individual circumstances. Generally speaking, you must prove that you are unable to work because of a long-term ill health condition. It must be something that prevents you from being able to work full-time or part-time, again depending on your circumstances.

You also need to prove that you meet the conditions of residence, meaning that you have been in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, for the past 3 months. You need to have the “right to reside” in one of the countries listed above in order to be eligible to receive benefits.

If you are dismissed due to ill health, you should also receive a Notice of Termination from your employer mentioning the reason for your dismissal. You would also need to share this with the DWP in support of your benefits claim.

In order to make your application and successfully receive benefits, it is paramount to have evidence to support the fact that you have been dismissed due to ill health, and the relevant paperwork to support your claim. Having the right evidence and documents will ensure that you are able to register for the right benefits so that you can continue to provide for yourself and your family.

Which Benefits Can You Claim If You Are Dismissed Due To Ill Health?

You can claim the following benefits if you are dismissed due to ill health:

• Jobseeker’s Allowance: This is a weekly payment to help with living costs. To be eligible for this benefit, you must have been looking for work for at least 4 weeks.
• Employment and Support Allowance: This is a welfare benefit designed to help people who are unable to work due to ill health. The amount you can get depends on your circumstances.
• Universal Credit: This is a monthly payment for individuals on a low income.
• Housing Benefit: This is a payment to help with housing costs such as rent and mortgage payments and is now added as a housing element to your Universal Credit payment.
• Council Tax Reduction: This is a discount on your local authority’s council tax bill that you can claim for being unemployed or on a low income.
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP): A non-means-tested benefit that provides financial support to individuals below State Pension age who have a long-term health condition or disability.
• Attendance Allowance: A non-means-tested benefit that provides financial support to individuals above State Pension age who have a long-term health condition or disability.
• Statutory Sick Pay (SSP): A benefit that provides financial support to employees who are unable to work due to illness or injury.

What Supporting Evidence Do You Need To Claim Benefits If You Are Dismissed Due To Ill Health?

There are several pieces of evidence you will need to provide in order to claim benefits due to ill health. This includes: 

• medical reports from doctors 
• evidence of your disability 
• evidence of long-term ill health 
• proof of loss of income due to ill health 
• financial records showing any debts or expenses 
• proof of income, such as pay stubs or receipts 
• documents from any previous employment

If you are claiming benefits due to an injury or disability, you will also need to provide documentation, such as doctor’s notes or medical reports, to prove that you are unable to work. Additionally, you may need to provide proof that you have been actively seeking employment, such as job search records, career guidance services, and CVs.

How Do You Claim Benefits If You Are Dismissed Due To Ill Health?

Claiming benefits due to ill health can be a lengthy process. Once you have established your eligibility for benefits, the next step is to make a claim.

To make a claim for benefits due to ill health, you must complete an application form along with a medical questionnaire and apply for each benefit separately. Below are some guidelines that you can follow for a benefits claim:

• You can file a claim for Universal Credit online or by calling their helpline at 0800 328 5644 for guidance.
• You can contact your Job Centre or apply online to claim Employment and Support Allowance. Alternatively, you can contact the Jobcentre new claims helpline at 0800 055 6688.
• To apply for PIP, you can call the PIP helpline at Telephone: 0800 917 2222 or send a letter to PIP new claims at Personal Independence Payment New Claims, Post Handling Site B, Wolverhampton, WV99 1AH.
• You can claim Attendance Allowance by filling out the Attendance Allowance claim form online or in writing and sending it to Freepost DWP Attendance Allowance via post.
• For Council Tax Reduction, you can apply through your local council.

When submitting your application, you need to provide detailed information about your medical condition, how it affects you, and how it has prevented you from working. 

Once you submit your benefits claim application and the supportive evidence, it can still take weeks before your benefits claim is processed and approved.

Conclusion:

Ill health is a serious issue and can often cause an employee to get dismissed for performance-related issues. If this happens and you are unable to find alternative employment, you may be eligible for certain benefits depending on your own personal circumstances. 

References:

Dismissing staff: Dismissals due to illness – GOV.UK

How Much Is Ill Health Severance Pay? | DavidsonMorris

What disability and sickness benefits can I claim? | MoneyHelper