Advice please

Locky1955 · Post by **Locky1955** » 06 Oct 2016, 09:22

Hello everyone

I am a full time poste with 15 years service. I have had over the past two years 4 operations all Arthritis related. As a result I have used all my paid 6 months sickness benefit.
I am now again signed off with Arthritis related back pain. I am expecting to get half pay, does anyone know if SSP is added to this by Royal Mail or do I have to claim this?
I hope to be back at work when this problem settles down, a week or so.

If it does not would ~I be in line for Ill Health Retirement? I am 61 years old. Do I have to request this or does RM instigate it?

Any advice welcome.

regards

bogstandard · Post by **bogstandard** » 06 Oct 2016, 10:11

AFAIK (and i'm prepared to be shot down in flames) RM pay more than SSP so no, SSP is NOT added to your pay, i don't think you should get SSP also but asking never hurts. The minimum any employee from any job can expect is SSP.
RM instigate IHR, this would be done after taking advice from ATOS, as one of the questions that is on all referrals is dose this person meet the criteria for IHR, if you make the request RM can sit and wait for you to leave voluntarily.
You can and probably should ask to be referred to ATOS.

Tiddler · Post by **Tiddler** » 06 Oct 2016, 12:21

bogstandard wrote:AFAIK (and i'm prepared to be shot down in flames) RM pay more than SSP so no, SSP is NOT added to your pay, i don't think you should get SSP also but asking never hurts. The minimum any employee from any job can expect is SSP.
RM instigate IHR, this would be done after taking advice from ATOS, as one of the questions that is on all referrals is dose this person meet the criteria for IHR, if you make the request RM can sit and wait for you to leave voluntarily.
You can and probably should ask to be referred to ATOS.

As mentioned above any sick pay from Royal Mail already includes the SSP element already, so it can't be claimed separately

Locky1955 · Post by **Locky1955** » 07 Oct 2016, 14:21

Hi
and thanks for the advice. I have been spoken to by OH Assist yesterday, but because I have been signed off till November, they have said they will be in touch in two weeks time. They have all my details and have said that I am covered under the Equality Act due to the long term Arthritis. I have also spoken to my Manager and asked to be seen by the RM Doctor with a view to IHR. Not sure how long these things take. I do have another option to reduce my hours and only do indoor work. Thats if its available. Time will tell.

Chelseablue · Post by **Chelseablue** » 11 Oct 2016, 19:55

After 6 months pay is halved , is that for the length of one absence or is that accrued over several ? Thanks

Post by **aiden01** » 11 Oct 2016, 20:44

Chelseablue wrote:After 6 months pay is halved , is that for the length of one absence or is that accrued over several ? Thanks

one absence.

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 12 Oct 2016, 16:03

Chelseablue wrote:After 6 months pay is halved , is that for the length of one absence or is that accrued over several ? Thanks

It's an aggregate of absences over a 4 year rolling period. So if they add all the absences, including the current one, together and it is over 6 months total, then at the 6 month point you go onto 1/2 pay.

wannabeek · Post by **wannabeek** » 12 Oct 2016, 18:55

Yes, that is how I have seen it happen, as TBT says. Have 3 months off sick in 2013, 1 month off in 2014, then your pay gets cut to half after 2 months in 2016. It rolls on though, so the 3 months from 2013 don't count when it gets beyond the same point in 2017.

No idea how all this tallies with the attendance procedure protocols tho, with stages and whatnot.

Chelseablue · Post by **Chelseablue** » 12 Oct 2016, 20:26

Even if say 2 absences are with same injury and youve just come out of an operation for this , and covered by equality disabilty act? Worried now bout things,,

bogstandard · Post by **bogstandard** » 13 Oct 2016, 10:34

Chelseablue wrote:Even if say 2 absences are with same injury and youve just come out of an operation for this , and covered by equality disabilty act? Worried now bout things,,

The only time your pay MAY not decrease is, if your absence was due to an AOD.
Whilst i, and probably we, appreciate your situation the equality act doesn't cover pay in respect of a prolonged absence. What the equality does do is ask or rather demand employers to treat you as they would treat A.N.Other without your condition.

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 13 Oct 2016, 15:44

Locky1955 wrote:Hi
and thanks for the advice. I have been spoken to by OH Assist yesterday, but because I have been signed off till November, they have said they will be in touch in two weeks time. They have all my details and have said that I am covered under the Equality Act due to the long term Arthritis. I have also spoken to my Manager and asked to be seen by the RM Doctor with a view to IHR. Not sure how long these things take. I do have another option to reduce my hours and only do indoor work. Thats if its available. Time will tell.

Yes the Equality Act actually demands that of Royal Mail. If they can make reasonable adjustments by finding you a position inside, or reducing your hours, they must do so. But conversely if they can argue that the changes are unreasonable, such as they affect someone else's protected characteristics, then they can refuse and offer you IHR.