Work and ESA

Hello Grahamthegreat 

Thank you for your question. My name is Polly, and I am a work support adviser on the Macmillan support line. We talk to people about their employment rights and problems at work.

I am glad to hear that your employer is supporting you with six months full pay and six months half pay.

For the first 28 weeks of your sick leave your employer included Statutory Sick Pay in your occupational sick pay amount.

When this element of your sick pay ends then the employer needs to send you a form called the SSP1

This form is simply a confirmation that statutory sick pay has ended, and it gives the date.

This opens the possibility for you to claim a contributory benefit called New Style Employment and Support Allowance. You may also be entitled to means tested benefits.

For detailed information about how you claim this benefit and the amounts I suggest that you speak to our welfare rights team on the Macmillan support line.

They are open seven days a week on 0808 808 0000

You may also find it helpful to learn more about your employment rights when you have a cancer diagnosis. This is because cancer is a recognised disability under the Equality Act 2010 or the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (if you live in Northern Ireland).

Work and Cancer

These are really important rights when you are dealing with formal procedures at work or you need reasonable adjustments to do your job. Please get in touch if you need further advice about this