My husband was diagnosed with liver disease approx 4 years ago and was placed on the liver transplant waiting list. He had since been very stable and continued to work if somewhat more tired than he used to be. Over Christmas this year he caught a virus / infection which has resulted in him now being on dialysis on a critical care ward whilst they try and get him stable enough to be able to be able to have a transplant if one becomes available.
I’m really scared!
Unfortunately he was only 3 months into a new job when he became ill so he’s not entitled to SSP and his employer is terminating his contract because he obviously won’t be able to work for the foreseeable future. I need to find out what benefits he/we will be entitled to claim for as we have a mortgage etc and no insurance. Does anyone have any experience they can share that might point me in the right direction please?
Hi, welcome to the forum. I’m sorry to hear about your situation. Citizens Advice will be able to help. They can do a benefits check for you and help you apply. They will also know about local support that is available for you.
I think your husbands employer should have paid SSP as he only has to have ‘done some work’ gov.uk/statutory-sick-pay/e... He doesn’t have to have worked for 6 months. They may also have discriminated against him on the grounds of disability. It would be worth a formal letter to his employer though pointing out both things, and a chat to Acas for early conciliation to see if that will sort it out. However you have to decide which battles you want to fight at the moment because what you’re going through is very stressful.
I hope your husband stabilises and gets his transplant soon x
Thanks so much for your message. Citizens Advice is top of my list for calling this morning. I was feeling a bit desperate as I was ransacking the internet for information in the early hours. It’s reassuring to have found this forum though. Thank you again x
Are you 100% sure you don't have some sort of mortgage protection insurance/critical illness cover for your home? It would be unusual for a mortgage lender to give you the mortgage without you having one in place and that would potentially be one worry sorted. Get your paper work looked out and scrutinized.
I think we’ve all been on that early hours search at some time or other. Don’t be put off if you have to wait a while for Citizens Advice, it will be worth it.
First of all what a shifty employer. He should have some protections under the Equalities Act as his condition prior to going into hospital would be classed as a disability. The recommendation to go to citizens advice is sensible, possibly also try your local council's adult social care team. They may not be able to offer advice but worth a try as they are used to dealing with similar situations and may be a to point you in some good directions even if they are not directly able to help.
In addition to the helpful replies you've already received, you may also like to look at this page on our website (which isn't only about cost of living support):
Your husband may well have received this information from his employers HR department, but if just say from his manager it is worth emailing your HR department asking them to forward their employees policy handbook. If HR were not consulted you may well find like a lot of employers HR department when challenged they sit on the fence and no one is prepared to put in writing what they are saying. Worth a try maybe?
Hi there, I was very much in a similar position to yourself last year. The first thing I did was ask for a 3 month mortgage holiday- that really helped me until my benefits and pension got sorted ( I retired on permanent ill health and I'm 49) I agree that your husbands employer is worth pursuing as your comments are very suspicious! Good luck and very best wishesEmma x
I have had a liver transplant 2019,and at first it seems there was no help,wrong my first contact was with the hospitals own social care officer who ad vised me what I could get in benefit payments,someone then visited me at home and I got high level of pip,in Scotland it's now called adp,people working or not are entitled to this money due to there mobility issues and other health issues. I would say to visit citizens advice and let them help you with the process as it looks like your hubby should be on full money. Wishing you all the very best for yourself and your husband
Thank you for your message, I’m feeling a little calmer now. Fortunately my husband’s employer has agreed to 28 weeks SSP so that has taken some pressure off. He seems to stabilising slowly, has been taken off dialysis and has been put back onto the transplant waiting list. I think it’s just going to be taking it one day at a time at the moment and hope that they can get him well enough to come home to wait for the operation…we’ll see.
I hope you are feeling well, I appreciate you sharing you experience, thank you
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