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Missing Letter Causing Anxiety

Feefa12

I claimed ESA due to a number of health issues. Over the last 2/3 weeks, there's been further issues with my heart so my GP said he'd refer me back to the cardiologist. I've worked well over 30 years and I am embarrassed that I'm claiming benefits. I work for the nhs (part time due to being a lone parent and then health problems after they grew up), who put employees on half pay after SSP stops. I sent DWP a copy of my SSP1 form back in September.
I hadn't had a letter from ESA in a coupe of weeks so I called them to ask if anything had been sent out. I have had issues with missing mail in the past. They said they sent a letter on 05/12/22. I haven't received it. ESA told me it questions me about the nhs 'half pay'. I'm still off sick.
If this letter has gone into a neighbour's letterbox, it has my DOB, my NI number, my employer details and the sensitive questions they ask. This is affecting my BP and my heart. BP going up and heart rate dropping to levels like 48 bpm.
Am I right in thinking I should have received it by now, accounting for mail strike days and Xmas mail?

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Comments

poppy123456

In normal times I would have said you should have received it by now. With the Royal Mail strikes it’s not unusual not to have received it. A friend of mine posted a card to me 2 weeks ago and I am yet to receive it.
All the strikes from them have caused huge postal backlogs.

Feefa12

Thanks poppy123456. Your reply has calmed me down a bit. I was drafting a complaint to Royal Mail to be emailed today but will hold off till tomorrow. The postie has posted other people's mail to me - even from a whole different street fgs, so I've had concerns over the years that he's done the same to my mail. He then gets offended when I hand him the mail not meant to me and I ask - could you have maybe sent this person my mail?

calcotti

I've just received first class post which was posted at the end of November so the letter may well still come.

You are entitled to ESA while getting occupational sick pay provided your 28 week entitlement to SSP has ended. Your employer should have given you form SSP1 which confirms that SSP has ended.

Feefa12

Thank you calcotti. Yes, my employer gave me my SSP1 form, which I sent to ESA at the start of September. This confirmed that SSP ended mid July. ESA confirmed that they have the SSP1 form but still sent that 'missing letter', challenging me about occupational sick pay. I've been sending fit notes online, on time. The lines note a number of health issues.

calcotti

That’s a bit odd. You would expect them to be aware that some people (are fortunate to) get occupational sick pay beyond their SSP entitlement. You should simply be able to reassure them that you are not working and are getting occupational sick pay in accordance with your terms of employment. If you payslips identify the pay as sick pay you could send one if they remain doubtful.

Feefa12

calcotti said:

That’s a bit odd. You would expect them to be aware that some people (are fortunate to) get occupational sick pay beyond their SSP entitlement. You should simply be able to reassure them that you are not working and are getting occupational sick pay in accordance with your terms of employment. If you payslips identify the pay as sick pay you could send one if they remain doubtful.

Yes, I thought it odd also especially when they said over the phone (when I called to ask if they'd sent any letters) - HMRC told us you are receiving income from your employer. Did ESA contact HMRC? I doubt that HMRC contacted ESA voluntarily. I have arthritis - proven on MRI, hypothyroidism - shown on blood tests/ meds, congenital heart defects - shown on cardiac angiogram, high and variable 24 hour blood pressure - on meds, I fractured my hand - shown on xray, other health issues (non mental health), all of which can be proven by health test results. I've blooming worked all my life even when I had babies to raise on my own. Boy, it was difficult. My job is stressful but still kept going, till this year. What the hell is going on here? I'm going to draft a complaint as I see I'll be bullied back into work. I'm stressed at work and now at home also, with the way ESA are acting. It's so stressed at work that I'm genuinely scared that I'll walk in one day but not walk back out again. My BP goes crazy when at work, even when on meds.

calcotti

I don’t think it’s bullying, it seems like somebody without experience and or sufficient training is dealing with it. Try not to be stressed out by it, it’s an administrative matter and will hopefully be resolved fairly easily.

janer1967

There is an automatic feed from tax to dwp showing earnings

Feefa12

janer1967 said:

There is an automatic feed from tax to dwp showing earnings

That being said, they know (1) I'm an nhs worker and (2) the workings of nhs sick pay, instead of sending out letters touching on being accusatory.