Advice please regarding ESA and child tax credit

[the tinkerman]

Hi

 

Was wondering if anyone could give any advice please for a friend of mine who was off work for 5 months from Nov last year till March this year, he gets full pay for 6 months sick then half pay if off after 6 months, in Nov this year he has been off sick for 3 weeks and the doctor has just given him a sick note for another 2 weeks and he has been informed at work that as it is within a twelve month period he will go onto half pay after another week as his 6 months full pay will be up.

 

Question is if he does not go back to work after another week he will need to let the child tax credit people know as it states on their website:

 

to let them know if Ill or in hospital for more than 28 weeks (adults only) Within 1 month

 

But does that mean 28 weeks continuous,or a build up of 28 weeks within a specific period of time, how is it worked out, would the child tax credit dept work it out the same as his company from Nov last year to Nov this year or is it worked out different, plus is he entitled to claim ESA if he goes onto half pay and will he lose his child tax credits.

 

 

 

Any thoughts please

 

Tinks

[estellyn]

I think 28 weeks more or less continuously. Once he has exhausted his SSP he can claim ESA regardless of other sick pay arrangements - he just needs an SSP1 form from his employer. No he won't lose his child tax credits though any working tax credit will be affected.

[the tinkerman]

Thanks Estellyn for the reply

 

So even though he was off 5 months Nov to March last year and looks like he will be off over and above another month Nov to mid December this year which in total will amount to 28 weeks he will not need to contact the child tax credits.

 

Tinks

[blondebubbles]

What happened November to March is now irrelevant. This is a new period of illness so the 28 weeks starts from when the new period starts. Tax credits needs to be informed if off for more than 28 weeks.