Can You Claim Benefits If You Are On A Statutory Sick Pay?

If an employee is too ill to work, they can claim statutory Sick Pay from their employers. However, there are times when SSP is not enough for someone to meet their living expense. This is why we aim to learn through this article if you can claim benefits while you are on Statutory Sick Pay. We will explore the benefits one can claim with an SSP and how to claim benefits that one qualifies for. Additionally, we will also review if there are other forms of financial support available for those on SSP so that they can meet their health costs.

Can You Claim Benefits If You Are On A Statutory Sick Pay?

Yes, you can claim certain benefits if you are on Statutory Sick Pay.

For instance, you can claim Universal Credit to top up your income when you are sick and require medical care. However, whether or not you can claim Universal Credit along with SSP and the amount you will receive will depend on your circumstances. 

This means that two different people with different circumstances (this includes your health condition, as well as your income and savings) may receive different amounts through Universal Credit. In addition to this, the amount that you claim through SSP will be taken into account when you file a claim for Universal Credit.

If you are getting your weekly payment of £99.35 for SSP and need financial support to meet your housing costs, you can claim Housing Benefit (this is being replaced with Universal Credit) for expenses such as rental payments.

In addition to this, you can apply for a council tax reduction if you are claiming SSP based on your health condition and being on a low income. This will help to get you a discount on your annual bill for council tax payments.

Since the limit for receiving statutory SIck Pay is limited to 28 weeks and there is a strong likelihood that some claimants may require extended support beyond this timeframe, you can check if you are eligible for Employment and Support Allowance. However, this too has been replaced with Universal Credit in many areas.

If your health condition prevents you from performing everyday tasks, you can claim Personal Independence Payment in addition to a statutory Sick Pay. Since this is a non-means-tested benefit, your claim of other benefits or your income will not affect your eligibility for PIP.

If you need someone to take care of you while you are unwell and you are claiming Personal Independence Payments, the person taking care of you can be eligible for Carer’s Allowance.

Claimants must remember that if their linked periods last continuously for more than three years, they will lose their claim to statutory Sick Pay. This does not necessarily bear an impact on the other benefits they claim.

How Do You Claim Other Benefits If You Are On statutory Sick Pay?

There are different ways to claim each benefit that you may be eligible for while you are on Statutory Sick Pay. below are some guidelines that you may find useful:

If your SSP has run out due to the end of the 28 weeks, you can claim New Style Employment and Support Allowance. You can qualify for the benefit if you have been making National Insurance contributions for the past two to three years and are currently employed. This means that you should be participating in some form of work activity even if it is for a few hours each day. 

To claim ESA for the 2022/23 tax year, claimants should be earning a minimum of £123 a week, £533 a month or £6,396 a year for the previous two full tax years. If you are expected to return to work in the future, you will be assigned the “work-related activity group” and receive £77 a week, or £61.05 if you’re under age 25 for one year. If your health condition prevents you from returning to work you will be placed in the “support group” and get £117.60 a week for an unlimited time.

If a claimant does not qualify for ESA (this is usually due to fewer National Insurance contributions made than the eligibility criteria demand), you can apply for Universal Credit. If you need help with housing costs or if you are also responsible for a CHILD, you can claim additional elements to your Universal Credit claim. 

If your health condition prevents you from being active and mobile enough to perform basic tasks and take care of yourself, you can claim Personal Independence Payment. The amount that you receive will depend on the severity of your condition and could range between £24.45 and £156.90 a week for 2022/23.

Can You Get Help With Health Costs If You Are On Statutory Sick Pay?

While you may not be able to get help with health costs from the NHS due to your statutory SIck Pay claim, if you qualify for Universal Credit along with it, you can claim some support. However, you must meet the below-listed eligibility criteria:

  • you receive universal credit and you have no earnings
  • you receive universal credit and the earnings as per your last assessment were £435 or less
  • you receive universal credit, your earnings are equal to or less than £935 and you are assigned the “limited capability for work” or “limited capability for work-related activity” group for universal credit 

If you qualify for any of these conditions, you will be able to get free prescriptions from the NHS.

Alternatively, if you are on a low income due to your health condition, you can apply for financial support through the NHS Low Income Scheme. You can file your claim through an NHS hospital or your nearest JobCentre and claim free prescriptions, dental and eye care.

Conclusion:

The above discussion has indicated that one can claim Universal Credit, Employment and Support Allowance or Personal Independence Payment if they are claiming statutory SIck Pay due to an illness. Depending on an individual’s ability to meet the eligibility criteria, they may also be able to claim further support from the NHS to meet their health costs.

FAQs: Can You Claim Benefits If You Are On A Statutory Sick Pay?

What happens after the 28 weeks of Statutory Sick Pay?

Claimants will stop receiving payments from their employers for Statutory Sick Pay after the 28-week time period ends.

What happens when Statutory Sick Pay ends?

When Statutory Sick Pay ends after 28 weeks and you still require financial support, you can claim Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance.

How long can a doctor give a sick note for?

While a sick note can initially be given for three months at the start of the illness, it has to be clinically appropriate after that; depending on the condition of the patient.

How long can you be off sick before being dismissed?

Sick leave will start to be considered a s long leave if someone is not well even after four weeks. However, whether or not an employee will be dismissed after that will depend on their health condition and prospects. In most cases, there is a mutual agreement between employee and employer regarding a reasonable recovery period.

What happens if sick leave is exhausted?

If sick leave is exhausted and an employee is still not able to make a full recovery, they can choose to go on unpaid leave. While they will not be paid by their employer during this time, they will not risk losing their job.

References:

What disability and sickness benefits can I claim? | MoneyHelper.

Getting money when you’re off work sick – Citizens Advice

Check what benefits to claim if you’re sick or disabled – Citizens Advice

What can I claim if I am too sick to work?

I can’t survive on statutory sick pay