I have been off sick since the end of july due to the fact my knees starting giving way (I do a lot of walking in my job )

I had to wait for the op that sticks a camera in both knees and trys to repair the damage .

Had the op and the specialist comes in and says ive got good news and bad news ,

Good news is ive repaired the damage to the cartilage,

bad news is I found something I was not expecting so I took a biopsy

fast forward to just before Christmas and she the next specialist and he confirms it as rheumatoid arthritis, my scores they use were off the scale and it had spred to shoulders elbows writst to a lesser extent.

The company has paid me all I am entitled to due to SSP and sick pay and now I'm on contribution based esa .

However they do not seem to be in a hurry to get me back

when I talked to the union guy in November he said its because they are not paying you now it doesnt come out of their budget .

The problem I have is I cannot forsee me returning to the job I did before due to the damage done to the joints

however I would be capable of a desk job/office .

The problem being is they are few and far between .

Also if I return to work and have to go off again then they could get rid of me due to attendance ie sickness .

because they would count it as 2 periods of sickness .

They do not want to make me redundant due to ill health because it would cost them a lot of money due to a deal with the union at the company ,

I have asked the union rep to talk to the manager to see whether they could arrange something for me to return to work in the office that I could put in front of the specialist so he would agree for me to return to work at the end of the month but so far not a whisper .

I really need to push this issue because of financial pressures building as well as my sanity not being at work

Hi, sorry to hear this

- you can't do your old job

- you could do a new desk job

- because you could do *some* work, you are unlikely to get ill health retired - that's for people who can't work at all. So probably nothing to do with the union. (Also the company does pay the SSP so I think you are being fed a line!)

- but your company doesn't have a desk job

I think you now need to look elsewhere. But also if you work for the largest postal operator, have you looked into their benevolent association to see if they can help tide you over?

sorry apologies- esa is not paid by company, I misread!

sorry apologies- esa is not paid by company, I misread!

np

At the moment I am between apointments for the specialist that's why I asked the union guy to see , but the problem is like you said I cannot do the old job but could do a office job , well what happens if they turn round and say there is none available ?

np

 

At the moment I am between apointments for the specialist that's why I asked the union guy to see , but the problem is like you said I cannot do the old job but could do a office job , well what happens if they turn round and say there is none available ?

then I am afraid you will be looking for employment elsewhere. They are not obliged to keep you on if there is no job you can do available. Being mobile ie able to move towns may help. Offering to retain as eg HGV might do it if your health is up to that. But they do not have to find you work if there is none.

well you see that is what I want to know , where do I stand is there a job or not if not then get rid of me

well you see that is what I want to know , where do I stand is there a job or not if not then get rid of me

If the union aren't doing anything you had best ask yourself. Probably in writing. But I would assume not, and get on with finding something else.

Remember though you will be accruing holiday - so ask for that to be paid too! It may sharpen the thinking.

https://worksmart.org.uk/health-advice/employer-support/sick-pay/what-happens-my-paid-holiday-entitlement-when-i-am-sick

thanks for thatand I shall have top wait until the end of the month to see where I stand then because they are still trying to stabilise the artheritis

once you can give them aletter from your specialist as to what you are likely to be able to do the employer can then consult their OH bod and if they are in a position to offer you alternative work then you should be considered for any current vacancy.

If they dotn ahve any work then the chances are they will seek to dismiss you on capability grounds. Now your pension scheme may have conditions that will pay you a part pension based upon your disability or you may be able to take your pension early but not with the full benefits that being ill health retired brings. Schemes vary as to what they do around this and what level of disability is required for either full or part pension.

You havent said how old you are and how long you have worked for your employer, these will make a big difference to how much effort your employer will put into helping you

well you see that is what I want to know , where do I stand is there a job or not if not then get rid of me

once you can give them aletter from your specialist as to what you are likely to be able to do the employer can then consult their OH bod and if they are in a position to offer you alternative work then you should be considered for any current vacancy.

 

If they dotn ahve any work then the chances are they will seek to dismiss you on capability grounds. Now your pension scheme may have conditions that will pay you a part pension based upon your disability or you may be able to take your pension early but not with the full benefits that being ill health retired brings. Schemes vary as to what they do around this and what level of disability is required for either full or part pension.

 

You havent said how old you are and how long you have worked for your employer, these will make a big difference to how much effort your employer will put into helping you

I am 48 and I have worked for them for 12 years . As far as I can see there are two outcomes

1 they find me indoor work ie front counter which would be the best outcome.

2) they make me redundant due to ill health which would cause problems finding another job considering how much time off I have had with this in the last 12 months

You would almost certainly now meet the criteria for being regarded as disabled. Therefore your employer has a duty to make reasonable adjustments.

Have a read of this https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/multipage-guide/employing-people-workplace-adjustments

 

1 they find me indoor work ie front counter which would be the best outcome.

My friend who does front counter walks 6 miles a day. It's not a desk job!

they arent going tot make you redundant, it is the position not the person filling it so what about the pension scheme rules for incapacity? You cant retire on your own volition so you need to look to see if there is help for you in that direction.

Ultimately they can let you go on capability grounds if they dont have a suitable vacancy and that will mean no payput and the pension frozen until the scheme says you can have it, usually 60 or 66 and no monies added to the pot in the interim.

Dont have a copy of the pension scheme rules? ask for one, eevn if you just borrow it

Just got a voice mail on the phone from a withheld number so I played the message it was from job center plus with a very arrangent person saying you have this appointment on the 8th march if you miss it you can loose you benefits , I am on contribution based esa at the moment I have not left my employer

The problem being is they have told me to go to a job center that is 309 minute away when there is one 10 minute down the road and a lot nearer . Cant see why I have not even received one payment yet from them as well . can I request a change to the nearer job center

Hi postmn.

If you have questions about ESA, it's best to start a new thread in our benefits forum.

HB

will do

they do this, they dont seem to understand that you are still employed. You will probably ahve to phone the DWP centrally and try and find the right department to complain to and then kick off in writing as no-one will actually call you back when they find out that you think they are less then perfect.

well thought I would give a update I have returned to limited duties at the beginning of the month and I am slowly working my way up to a full shift while waiting for occupational health . so fingers crossed its going well at the moment

All the best with work, thank you for letting us know.

HB

well thought I would give a update I have returned to limited duties at the beginning of the month and I am slowly working my way up to a full shift while waiting for occupational health . so fingers crossed its going well at the moment

That's good news, I am pleased for you