Hiya
Hope someone can offer some advice.
I’m due to go on half pay next month and wondered if it actually works out as half pay? The reason I’m asking is that someone mentioned that paying less tax and n.i. means it works out a bit more than half pay.
Has anyone been in this position before?
Thanks
Krissy
Hi Krissy,
I am on half pay and have been since Christmas Day(!). For me, it has worked out a little more than true half pay, because yes, you do pay less tax etc.
Isobel
Thanks for that Isobel. I’m dreading it 
Krissy x
Yes, it’s a bummer! But so far I have managed and it has made me more aware of what a load of rubbish I normally spend my money on!
Regards
Isobel
depending on how long you have been getting SSP for too you may be eligible to get ESA… employment support allowance… you apply for this if you have been off for 6 months… its not much but its a wee bit extra.
if you havent been off for 6 months yet you will still be getting ssp so wont be able to apply just yet.
Lulu
Hi lulu
I’ve just posted a new thread about ESA strangely enough. My employer sent me an email saying I can apply for ESA but I don’t know anything about it. I read that it isn’t a great deal. I was just wondering exactly how much it would be? I’ve been off for six months come the middle of May (ish).
Cheers
Krissy
Hi Krissy - My SSP finished around the 23rd March and my employer sent me a form to apply for ESA. I did this over the telephone and then had to supply my sickness certificate , which I had to get from my employer. Have never had to do anything like this before so just let them guide me through the process. Had letter telling me the ESA will be about £68, which I think, will be paid into my bank account so will wait and see what happens at end of month.!Hope this helps. Marli
Hi,
my experience of half pay was not good. I work in a secondary school and when you go on to half pay they have a crazy way of working it out, might just be Essex so check before anyone worries. They pay you half pay of the number of working days in that month. So Feb can be bad and every month is different. In my case that Nov they said had only 17 working days and paid me half of that so 8.5 days pay and it was a real shock to have such a small wage. Having said that I am mindful of people who are not offered 6 months full pay and 6 months half pay and know that I was more fortunate than many others, so probably shouldn’t moan. The annoying part was that they only gave me 14 days notice so it was hard to plan benefits to start on time. I think my benefits took over 10 weeks to start so a pretty nice cheque when it arrived. I was also sent a £250 cheque when I went back to work despite telling them I had a permanent job waiting for me, so check all the things you are entitled to. There are payments that are not means tested that everyone is entitled to so check it out
Lily x
Hi Marli and Lily
Thanks very much for your info. Just had a chat with Welfare Officer at work a little earlier and she said to fill out the form online ready and she will check it out but apparently it can’t be completed until the SSP runs out. I’m mindful that it means the half pay will happen before the payments start which is quite worrying with mortgage payments etc.
Thanks again everyone, much appreciated.
Krissy x
With stuff like mortgsges the lenders always say, PLEASE come and talk to us - if they don’t know what going on, they can’t help.
You have a decent job, and a very good chance to get back to it, so why should they worry - once they know. I’m sure they would be happy to make arrangements - maybe extend your morgtagae, drop a few payments to interest-only or whatever, rather than having the stress of it make the situation worse. Do talk to them, and wishing you good luck.
Hi Hope you don’t mind me jumping in. I’ve been on the sick from work since January when I got the diagnosis. So far, I’ve sent in two sick notes (three months each) and so far I’ve been paid in full, but no one from the Company has been in touch (I’m an NVQ Assessor and therefore a remote worker) I live in Lincolnshire but the Company is in Sheffield) - I don’t know if I’m entitled to all this money and I’m too afraid to ask in case they want it back!!! I keep getting different answers as some people have told me I’m due to it and others say it should just be SSP. It’s all very confusing. Can someone help? Thanks in advance, Dianne
Dianne
It will be down to your company as in some cases they will pay more than the government minimum.
by the way as you have secondaries your are entitled to DLA at the upper level, c£120 per week. This is not means tested and is paid regardless of whether you are working or not.
To get it paid speak to your Mcmillan nurse or BCN and they should be able to fill in the application for you.
Fionax
Thanks to everyone for your information and advice. My God, I’ve started filling out the ESA form online. Its 57 pages long by the looks of it. I’m sure its deliberately done to put people off, luckily I’m a sad person who quite likes filling out forms.
Cheers again
Krissy x
Hi Dianne
As Fiona says it will depend on your company policy, & even then may be discretionary. For example my company pays only 10 days sick in a 1 year (rolling) period, but paid me 50 days when I was off, which they said was in recognition of my length of service & good time-keeping/absence record.
Davina x
Hi Fionam and Davina,
Many thanks for the information, I really appreciate it. I didn’t know anything about DLA and didn’t have a clue that I’m entitled to anything. I don’t have a McMillan nurse (never been offered one) and the Chemo nurses are always so busy, they don’t have time to really talk. I will ask them who I should see about it tho, as I know there are McMillan nurses in another department at Lincoln County Hospital which I attend.
Hope you are fit and well today and feeling good. I’m ok at the moment, enjoy the sun and have a good day. Thanks again. Take care, talk soon. Love Dianne x x x
Hey Dianne
Give your local benefits office a call & ask if they have a McMillan Benefits Advisor.
I went to Maggies to see one, but I know that there are usually advisors in most Benefits offices.
The lady was fab & filled in the maaaasive form for me! They know exactly what info is needed & how to word it all. I don’t have secondaries (yet!..have 2 regional recurrances), but get the min care element as I have Lymphoedema. They would also deal with any appeals etc if required.
Remember you’re entitled to a Blue Badge too if you are having active treatment! They’ll issue it to you for 3 years. It’s a God send on bad days.
Hope this helps
Hx
I was put i touch with the Macmillan Benefits Advisor through my BC nurse. I am still waiting to hear if I have been successful, but I am not holding out much hope. It seems to take so long to process.
Hi Cmw
Yes, it does takes absolutely ages. I put my claim in beginning of Jan, it was sometimes in Feb before I found out I was getting ESA. They do back date to when you put your claim in though.
x
Hi Hayz, Thanks so much for the info, I’m going to start the calling today! I expect it will take ages, but it’s worth doing, so thanks everyone for your input, I really appreciate it. Hope you are all doing ok today. I’ve got the usual crappy aches and pains from the chemo, but hopefully will be better tomorrow in time to go out for a meal and a couple of glasses of vino. One good thing about having Monday treatments, I’m usually ok for the weekend!! Take care and thanks again. Talk soon. Lotsa love, Dianne x x x
Hi,I work for the NHS & I went on to half pay last month. 6 weeks prior my employer sent me an SSP1 form, telling me when my 1/2 pay would start. They also sent info about claiming ESA, which I knew nothing about. They gave me a number to ring, which I did and filled a form in over the phone. You can fill this form in 5 weeks before you go on half pay, so that its all sorted for when you do go onto half pay. I was granted full ESA, which is about £64 a week, but paid fortnightly. After 13 weeks this rate goes up. They dont have to pay you ESA or they can give you some of it, but I dont know what the criteria is. You can ring Job Cenre plus for info on this.
Once I started the process, it was all dealt with very efficiently and quickly. I also had to go for an interview at the Job Centre, but as I have a job to go back to, it was more of just a chat and them telling you what they can offer in means of support.
My half pay is slightly more than half, I expect due to less tax and NI.
I also get DLA (which the Oncology specialist nurse told me to apply for) and because I get that I also have a blue disabled badge.
I hope you get everything sorted out, as if we dont have enough stress at this time. You could always try the Citizens Advice bureau for further info.
xx