Ssp Need Help Please

[zoe76]

Please can someone explaining ssp to me. I work 16 hours and am entitled to working tax credit. I am due to go for operation and need 6 - 8 weeks off work. I been told I cant claim ssp from employer as I'm under lower earning limit of £109 per week.
I cannot live on working tax credit alone, can I claim ssp from the government? also as I wont be working for the weeks am I still entitled to keep getting the tax credits for this period?
tyvm

[Buenchico]

SSP is only payable when the employee's normal weekly earnings are at least £111 per week:
https://www.gov.uk/statutory-sick-pay/eligibility

Although it's paid through the employer, it's actually paid by the Government (because the employer reclaims it through the tax system). So you can't 'claim it from the Government'.

However employees who are ineligible for SSP may qualify for ESA, and that's what you should be seeking to claim:
https://www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance/overview

[zoe76]

thank you buenochico. I followed a link which was supposed to calculate if I was entitled but instead after a long process of filling in the form it only gave me what I already know, my entitlement to tax credits and housing benefit. Maybe I should call in at a job centre and ask there for help, again thank you

[THECORBYLOON]

'Phone this number 0800 055 6688

[THECORBYLOON]

CHRIS, the rules on SSP changed from 6.4.14 and any SSP paid for incapacity since that date is no longer recoverable, SSP paid before that date can be recovered for a limited period.

[zoe76]

thanks for that thecorbyloon