Hello, I wonder if anyone could give me some advice. I am 52 and for 33 years I have worked with children. From last summer I rapidly became immobile from arthritis in my hips and back and was signed off work. I am now three weeks into recovery from my first hip replacement. (Thanks for all the advice which I read as a non-member btw).
Last week I was dismissed from my post and as yet have no idea if I will get some of my pension. I am unable to work at the moment and am going to be having my second hip done after Christmas. I have a partner who works but am wondering if I an claim anything to tide us over until I am fit to find another job. It feels as if I am in limbo, unable to work but will be able to work eventually in some other capacity. I worked for education so cannot get to my full pension until I am 55 and may only get a Tier 3 temporary pension for 18months. Any ideas on who to contact?
Have you applied for disability living allowance. Info on gov website. In some areas in England it is now pips.
Hi, I haven't applied for anything yet because although not fit for my old job I am hoping to be fit at some point next year and wasn't sure if i could apply for a 'temporary' disbility. I went onto a benefits calculator but just seemed to go around in circles.
Hi Kate Why were you dismissed? That seems a bit draconian... who did you work for? Employers need a reason to dismiss someone from their job...
Hi Kate
Check with Citizen's Advice. They should be able to tell you everything you're entitled to and how to apply.
Goid luck
Exactly what I was going to say. I would also suggest you talk to them about the dismissal. Make sure you know your full financial situation (partners earnings etc). PIP would be the disability benefit.
You should claim for contribution based ESA as well as disability living allowance. Having worked for 33 years you have plenty of national insurance contributions to claim from. DWP to not freely tell you about this benefit you have to ask as I found when my husband had a major stroke and was told by them, as I am older than him , he would have to live on my state pension until he was old enough to claim his own. Hope this help.
Hello and welcome Kate,
well first of all, like the others have said, it is against the law to fire somebody when they are signed off sick, so write to your ex employer and ask them to put in writing the reason for your dismissal, they have to give you a reason, then you can take them to the unfair dismissal tribunial, as for your pension, I take it you mean a work based pension, you are entitled to this as you have paid for it over your years of employment, it sounds to me very unfair that this has happened when you are geniunely sick. I would also consult your lawyer, as a letter from him/her carries much more wieght, and they will have to pay you what you are due, failing this the CAB is your best place to go.
best of luck to you,
Lynne.
Thank you everyone, jeez, what a lot of us hippies there are! First of all let me say that my employers have done everything by the book. I worked with children aged 2 - 4 and did a lot of floor work (read that as up and down off the floor 50 times an hour - no wonder I am so fat now!) and a lot of very physical stuff in the outdoors with them. my consultant told me that if I wanted to preserve my hips for more than 5 years then I should find some other work as the danger of dislocation sitting cross-legged was high even after a few years. Basically I have been retired on ill health but the jargon is now 'dismissal' as I have been off sick for nearly a year and not much hope of getting back until next year. I am still waiting while my pension rights are assessed. My local gov pension has 3 tiers 1 = never going to work again 2 = may get back to work before pensionable age 3 = long term but temp illness with a view to working within 3 years. The pension schemes all changed a couple of years ago.
I looked at all the benefits but got confused as to which I should apply for. I don't think I am incapacitated enough for PIP, well, maybe today I am.
Btw, I am 3 weeks down the line from the op and the only real discomfort I get is a mad, raw pain mid thigh. The joint itself is stiff but painless-ish. And we won't talk about the other side which I want to rip out with a pair of pliers!
You are right employers can dismiss on grounds of Ill health if they go through the right procedures. This happened to my hubby too. However you should be entitled to the contribution based ESA I mentioned for one year even if you manage to drawer some of your company pension. The 12 months can be continued if during that time you ate put in a special support group. I.e is you unable to ever return to work,though I think you will probably be fine once you have recovered from your ops .
Hi
I have arthritus and awaiting op I do still work but was given some PIP - there are 2 levels - it is worked on your ability to work (or lack of ability) but they dont means test it, you are stating how much your condition affects your life as to how they award it, a qualified trained nurse does assessment
when you are receiving PI[P it opens up avenues to claim other things I believe, havent got that far as yet
Im in a pickle as I need the op but I wont get Sick pay as on zero hour contract, I am on my own and also as pension now moved on another 2 and half years I fear I may need to continue trying to work through untill I get that,feel Im in lap of gods at moment
px
pauline
Hi
I have arthritus and awaiting op I do still work but was given some PIP - there are 2 levels - it is worked on your ability to work (or lack of ability) but they dont means test it, you are stating how much your condition affects your life as to how they award it, a qualified trained nurse does assessment
when you are receiving PI[P it opens up avenues to claim other things I believe, havent got that far as yet
Im in a pickle as I need the op but I wont get Sick pay as on zero hour contract, I am on my own and also as pension now moved on another 2 and half years I fear I may need to continue trying to work through untill I get that,feel Im in lap of gods at moment
px
pauline
p.s.
could try ' Turn To Us ' its a website that runs through entitlements
Oh Pauline, what a pickle indeed. I have been off work since last summer, the arthritis started almost overnight and eventually left me hardly able to walk by the time I had the first hip replaced on 30th June. I thank my lucky stars that I had sick pay up until now. Poor you. We never think that something like this will happen. The only hope I can give you is that in three weeks I have had an amazing recovery. I have been very determined to get back to my original fitness and get as much walking in as I do resting. If I was going back to a desk job I reckon, if the other hip was working properly, I could get back next week, although no driving yet. The difference in the right hip is amazing and have no regrets about having it done. The first two weeks are s**t but after that it's plain sailing. I hope you can find a way to get through the operation financially because the difference it makes is amazing. I am almost looking forward to having the next one done!
Hi Kate,
I only know how it works in the USA. Disability would be difficult to obtain here, but there are other resources for temporary help. I sure hope you find the financial relief you need.
Take care and remember we are here for you. To cheer you on and to encourage you as you hobble down the hippie path!
💛 Dawn, USA
Hi Kate ...
I am so sorry that you have to deal with this !!! it seems so unfair ....
I live in Holland now for one year, after 34 years living in USA ... I have been retired against my will (other story all together) so entitled to Social Security -
If I were in your shoes, I would go to a lawyer or someone from social services to help me get throught his maze -
good luck dear Kate ... let us know how you are getting on -- Thank you for sharing ...
warm hug
Hello, thanks for the hugs and encouragement (I am imagining a row of cheering people - all sitting down!!).
I have to say again that my dismissal/retirement was, and isn't going to be contested because I really won't be able to return to my substantive post without damaging my new hip's life. In a way, for me, it is a releif as I still have to face the next one being done in six months time (no sooner with my consultant because my hip is un-cemented). I also have arthritis in my lower back as well.
I do realise I am luckier than a lot of people, I have a lovely partner who works but when you are used to contributing it feels a bit weird when you're not.
I am a very positive person and feel that at 52 it is time to maybe follow another career path of my own making but in the meantime I will have no guilt in finding out what I can claim for in benefits!
I am the trail of PIP and ESA today.....
Hi Kate
i understand why you are accepting your situation but under your employment rights your employer has a duty of care to you which includes trying to identify suitable alternative employement . If they have not done this they have failed in their legal duty and failed you.
please at least investigate. I do admire your get up go attitude to next steps but you shouldn't have to accept unfair treatment. Speak to CAB about this or a good solicitor if you know one. Many CAB can offer a chance to talk to a
solicitor as well.
best wishes
judy
Hi Judy, I work for education, employed by local gov - they (mostly) always do things by the book. I went through a few meeting with Occupational Health and then Human Resources and re-deployment was discussed. It is very difficult to find a job for me as my job was quite specialised with very young children - as I cannot do this work anymore the alternative was trying to find a desk job which I am not trained for and do not want. Please stop worrying - I have welcomed this and see it as a new part of my life. I have many ideas for my future once I have healed and this thread question is only to ask some advice of you lovely people as to what I can claim now to tide me over.
Thank you all for your concern, dismissal is a harsh word, but hey, life is for living and having started on the healing process from agonising arthritis I am grabbing life by the b***s
Pleased that there has been a proper process which you are satisfied with. Good luck with looking for an alternative. I changed careers at 50, 60 and again at 62. There will be something out there for you especially with such a positive attitude.
judy