I have RRMS. I still work part time (20 hours per week) and I get PHI through a Group Policy my employer has.
I’ve recently been off sick and have been told that I should be off sick now. My problem is that in the last year I have gone over my employer’s sick pay limit. This means that I get no pay from my employer, just PHI, and while that is obviously great, sadly it’s not enough to cover my mortgage, utilities etc, let alone have any money to live on.
It seems that ESA is very much directed at people who are likely to be off work very long term or permanently and if I tried to make a claim I would probably be back at work by the time the claim went through.
I’ve been into CAB and they weren’t really any help - they just seemed a bit surprised that my PHI doesn’t cover my bills (I really don’t live an extravagant lifestyle…!!).
Anyone have any clues how people are meant to cope financially in these circumstances?
I don’t know anything about PHI, so I’ve got no idea how much it is. Have a look on the Sick or disabled people and carers - Citizens Advice website which might be of more use to you than your visit to the CAB seems to have been.
The problem you’re possibly going to face is that any potential entitlement to ESA might be reduced by the amount you get from your PHI, so it might be pointless.
Anything else is likely to be means tested so again will be based on your income plus any money you have saved as balanced against your ‘needs’.
Is there a welfare rights service at your local council (county, borough or district etc)? Or can you try again with the CAB.
Also, you’ve not said whether you are significantly disabled, if you have disabilities which require you to need help with mobility or personal care, you could make a claim for PIP which is not means tested. Again, look at the info on the CAB website or http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/ which is a great source of information about ESA and PIP, but to get the full guides costs you money - about £20 per year, so it sounds like your best bet is the CAB first for general info, then for more detailed stuff, look at benefits and work.
You should also look at Council Tax Benefit, again means tested but it’s possible you could at least get some money off your bill.
Good luck with it all. The U.K. benefits system is a minefield for the uninitiated. I hope you’re soon fighting fit and able to return to work and forget all this, like it’s been a bad dream …
I don’t know if looking into working tax credits could help. Those with a disability need to work 16 hours or more to get the disability component and working tax credits. For those with no disability need to work 30 hours or more to get working tax credits. If you have children the rules are different.
If it turns out that you have to be signed off full time and for a long period, the PHI payments might increase - worth checking.
If you are off sick beyond the period that statutory sick pay is payable, you may be able to claim ESA. It is not necessarily means tested - it can be awarded on the basis of national insurance contributions you have made.
If you do end up claiming for ESA, I would recommend the benefitsandwork website too. Could be £20 well spent.