IHR and Working Tax Credits.

[neilfair]

Not sure of what forum to put this in so apologies for no doubt getting it wrong.

I was given Ill Health Retirement in September and my Last Day of Service was stipulated as being the 1st October. Part of my package included the 12 weeks PILON which is obviously standard and 3 weeks accrued holiday pay. In the legal sense am I still employed by Royal Mail for the next 12 weeks or 15 weeks from that October 1st LDoS ? The reason I ask is that the benefits people phoned me today and left a message asking me to submit a new working tax credit claim. I want to be forearmed as to when my employment with RM officially finished. I'm hoping it's roughly about now, 15 weeks after my Last Day of Service.

Has anyone else been in a similar position ?

Grateful thanks in advance.

[Wessex]

Neil I was in a similar position to you .The final day is the final day.!!1 I phoned the tax credit people about my change of circumstances the afternoon I finished .I couldnt tell them the exact amount of my payout because I didnt know if RM would make any deductions but I made clear that it was an ihr payment and it was tax and ni free .As far as I could work out the lady at the other end took this as not being income.She asked me onlyapprox how much taxable income I had earned so far this tax year only.As a result my wifes tax credit payment went up.
I also signed on the rocknroll asap because we are entitled to contributions based JSA if looking for a new job.Also your NI payments get credited , so sign on straight away.With regards to other benefits you may not be entitled immediately because the payout will take you over the savings threshold but you will need to check with Citizens Advice.,also they can advise you about any disability allowances you may be entitled to.Hope this helps and good luck

Wessex

Your last day of service is your last day, period.The pay in lieu of notice is a brucie bonus that the Union negotiated for us .As I said I signed on straightaway and was entitled to jsa instantly ,minus the first 3 days which are never counted on a fresh claim for benefits

[neilfair]

Thanks for that, very comprehensive and explanatory post. Much appreciated.

[Wessex]

Thanks for that, very comprehensive and explanatory post. Much appreciated.

Sorry added a ps to my post for clarity

Wessex

[Wessex]

As an aside , I suspect there will be a lot of posties taking IHR in the near future as new ways of working expose those who have been carrying hidden injuries but soldiering on quietly.I wonder therefore if there should be a little section on here for faq
about IHR and life after RM .Or perhaps the Union should have it on their website.

[arnold cheshire]

Not sure of what forum to put this in so apologies for no doubt getting it wrong.

I was given Ill Health Retirement in September and my Last Day of Service was stipulated as being the 1st October. Part of my package included the 12 weeks PILON which is obviously standard and 3 weeks accrued holiday pay. In the legal sense am I still employed by Royal Mail for the next 12 weeks or 15 weeks from that October 1st LDoS ? The reason I ask is that the benefits people phoned me today and left a message asking me to submit a new working tax credit claim. I want to be forearmed as to when my employment with RM officially finished. I'm hoping it's roughly about now, 15 weeks after my Last Day of Service.

Has anyone else been in a similar position ?

Grateful thanks in advance.

why would the benefits people phone you ?

[neilfair]

Totally unsure. I don't know whether they randomly pick on one or two claims or whether Royal Mail has told them my PILON is up (doesn't seem to be the latter going on the advice above). Normally these things are resolved at the end of the tax year so I'm at a loss. They haven't been back to me yet but there's supposed to be some forms getting put in the post.