Wage overpaid whilst on SSP - no wages

[Clare2014]

Good afternoon

 

Hope someone can help. I am new on here. Currently working for my current employer for nearly 4 years, been a good worker however I have been signed off for stress at work for 4 weeks now due to what I would view as bullying from my line manager. This is an ongoing issue that HR are well aware (and witnessed once) of and I am very anxious about returning to work and am actually considering leaving for another job.

 

Anyway last month I was off for 2 weeks of my monthly pay period backed up with sick notes and I'm 2 weeks into being off this month. Last month my wage was paid as normal. I assumed that this was normal policy and maybe because of being off with stress at work the ssp threshold did not apply to me.

 

Today I was meant to be paid, logged on to my bank and no wages but all my DDs are showing as taking me into an unauthorised overdraft. I spoke to HR and they said that the woman in charge or salaries is off but as I was overpaid last month, I should have been on SSP for 2 weeks they have paid me SSP this month but as I was overpaid it means I don't get a wage this month.

 

This wasn't communicated to me, its not that i want money for nothing but I now have a full month and rent bills etc to pay and no money. I do t even have the money to go to work and I'm not sure what to do.

 

Is there any agencies who can help me with some money until I'm back at work or would I be better leaving and making a claim for ESA whilst I'm off sick? Never been on benefits so I don't know what to do.

 

As I say if I've been paid too much it wasn't explained to me how for this month and potentially next month I won't get a wage.

[Sidewinder]

Sorry for your situation.

 

Does your company normally pay company sick pay or is it always SSP only during periods of sickness?

 

If the latter, then unfortunately th ecompany does have an absolute right to recover salary overpayments without any need to refer to you to advise you of this. It is not good practice - common courtesy at least should dictate that it would be appropriate to let you know the situation - however it is not unlawful. The principle is that as you already had the money you are effectively no worse than you would have been. This does of course pose the question that as you did have the full wage when you were expecting SSP (or even nothing if you were confused over threshholds) why would there be a problem here other than the matter of pure hardship due to having only SSP to rely on?

 

I think that you must certainly speak to your bank and explain the situation to see whether arrangements can be made to avoid charges, but you should also speak to your employer to see whether the overpayment can be recovered over a longer period. You need to have some means of looking after yourself - even basic living costs, but I am not sure that you would qualify for any state support in the short term - others with more knowledge of the benefits system would be better qualified to answer that.

[Clare2014]

Thanks. Well after I posted this message I got three offers of interview from things I've been applying for over the last few weeks so decided to give my notice in if I get one of them and hopefully I can borrow some. All my savings have been put into a recent house move so my parents may oblige. As I say it's not a problem being paid ssp I just think it should have been explained to me that one month I'd be paid a full wage and the next month nothing! I'll survive for a month I have good friends and family and lots of food in the freezer I'm just a bit stressed with bills etc but I've been working since I left school at 16 and now 30 so my bank will see I've had no wage for the first time ever and hopefully give me some time to sort myself out.