Hi, my name is Deb13!

Deb13

Hi hope I can get little help .
I am on sick at the moment I not sure I can go back and do my job as am a cleaner. 
And I have had two hip replacement one is still very painful other same have pain in back from osteoarthritis. So not doing good .I do not think or I no I cannot do my job the way I am . Am 62 this year and thinking can work finish me on I'll health retirement. Now I don't have a work pension so they don't have to pay that . But would need to claim some benefits. I have no idea how all this works . Please any information would be helpful. 

poppy123456

Are you claiming SSP from your employer?

You can look at claiming Universal Credit but it's means tested so if you live with a partner you'll need to claim as a couple. If you have savings/capital of more than £16,000 you're excluded from claiming. You can use a benefits calculator to check entitlement. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/benefits-calculator/Intro/Home?cid=d1389733-d018-4a32-8475-f8aae0e3e586

If it shows entitlement and you do claim it then you can report your health condition, provided by a fit note and you'll be referred for a work capability assessment. Please note that if you're earnings are more than 16xNMW per week you will only be able to be referred for a work capability assessment if you're claiming a disability benefit such as PIP/DLA or ADP. 

You can also look at claiming New style ESA but for this you'll need the correct NI contributions from working in tax years 2021/22 and 2022/23. If you're claiming SSP then you won't be entitled to ESA payments until the SSP ends. You can make a claim 3 months before the SSP ends but payments won't start until SSP ends. You will need your SSP1 form from your employer and a fit note to claim it. It's not means tested so other income, savings/capital do not affect the amount you're entitled to. 

If you claim both the above together the ESA is deducted in full from any UC entitlement. 

You can also look at claiming PIP, assuming you're not living in Scotland. It's a disability benefit but whether you'll qualify will depend on how your conditions affect you. It's not awarded based on any diagnosis. If living in Scotland it will be ADP you would need to claim. 

See links for information. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/#:~:text=Personal%20Independence%20Payment%20(PIP)%20is,don%27t%20affect%20your%20eligibility.
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/Global/Migrated_Documents/adviceguide/pip-9-table-of-activities-descriptors-and-points.pdf

Jimm_Scope

Hi @Deb13, welcome to our community Poppy has answered your benefits question better than I ever could, but I thought I would link our advice page on Ill Health Retirement incase you'd like to know more about it: Stopping work and ill health | Disability charity Scope UK