statutory sick pay

[boviner]

hi i have been off work since feb 2004 after having a hip replacement . i am due to go in on august this year ro have the other one replaced, in the meantime i handed in my notice at my place of work but as i have nearly a month to go i have found another job my new employer knows that i am going in to hospital for the other hip to be done and my new employer realises that i will be off work for around twelve weeks my question is how long do i have to work for a new employer before i get statutory sick pay. thank you. i would apreciate a definate answer.

[paulz]

boviner - Just looked at this site, http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc.asp?doc=23069019 if you're not doing any work for new boss, it looks unlikely. Speak to new boss/Human Resources/personnel and explain or go to DWP [was benefits agency] explain your situation as you may need to set up to claim incapacity benefit

[saffstar]

If you aren't going to start work for them until after your op, then you won't qualify to receive SSP from them. Your current employer should issue you with an SSP1 form (stating that they're no longer paying you SSP cos you've left). If you take this to the DWP, they'll hopefully sort you out with Incapacity Benefit. If you are actually starting work for your new employer before the op, then you can be considered for SSP as soon as you've done some work for them, as long as your earnings are above the national insurance lower earnings limit. You can only receive SSP for a maximum of 26 weeks in one go though, and all periods of sickness that are less than 56 days apart, even if they were with a different employer or were for a different reason count as being 'in one go', so it sounds as though you may be nearing the end of your allowance. If you do exhaust your allowance, your employer at the time will have to issue you with the SSP1 to take to the DWP/JobCentrePlus for Incapacity Benefit, this time stating that you've had your maximum.

[boviner]

thank you for the advice on ssp owing to all the aggravation this is going to cause me i have decided to go for incapacity benefit, by the way i did forget to mention that i had already started with my new employer but i only lasted two days because the pain in my hip was so bad he was quite understanding and did say that he could see that i was struggling and he was prepared to waite for me until my op is done and my recooperation period is over. i really do appreciate both of you who answered my request and your time and effort on answering my problem, thank you. kindest regards from Boviner.