I had my Stroke on 14th September and recovery has been going well but like all of us I have good days and bad. I still have issues with my eyes, fatigue, my speech when I am tired or anxious but I am returning to work the week after next as I am not being paid any money. I have been off work 7 montjs and my employer tells me they have made a mistake and over paid me and have decided to pay me 0 on my next pay date as they claw back funds. I should have 6 months full pay, 3 months half pay and then statutory but i am getting 0. I am so angry I cant tell you. Whilst its not illegal its morrally wrong. I am not in a bad financial situation but dont have lots spare. I can get through the next few months but have to go back to work ready or not. I am a number to my employer but frustraringly my income protection didnt pay out as i dont meet their definition of incapacitated eventhough i was clearly unable to return to my job at the time of the claim. PIP cant find me on any systems eventhough the government have no issue finding me so I can pay tax. I feel that further to a Stroke society does not see us as most people think i look fine so have no idea about the ongoing Stroke related challenges we face daily. I will be contacting my union to put a grievance in and have contacted the financial ombudsmen about the insurance. The great thing about this community is that I know i am not alone. If anyone else has experienced road blocks like this I would be interested to hear about them. The fight continues.
You are absolutely right about everything you write about in your post.
It is a total and utter disgrace, and I am not even sure how much we can do to try to fight back. In another post we were discussing similar issues and the poster commented as below.
It is truly shocking what goes on and how we are pretty much at the mercy of others.
Morality goes out of the window and legality can be twisted to suit needs.
Insurance companies will happily take your money but will [always] try to not pay.
You will always be told this is best for you, but actually it is not, it is best for them (whoever they are).
It seems a shame to talk negativity when we on this forum always try to be positive and look for the good things that go on, but sometimes, you need to acknowledge the reality in which we live.
Of course I could go on and on about this, but there no point and it is better to conserve energy - “He who fights and runs away …”
Let’s end on a positive. Yes, things are bad and Stroke is not taken seriously, or so it would seem, but there are always things we can do. One thing we can always do is not accept things at face value. You can always question or challenge any decisions that made against you which make no sense. When doing so, remain calm, collect information in support of what you are doing and be prepared for the long haul. It can be done, but sometimes it takes a bit longer. We don’t necessarily always get the outcome we would like, but even if we are met half-way it is better than nothing.
I am currently in dispute with my GP and I expect I will be proven to be right and get the help I need. It may take time but I have time (not everybody does).
You @HamPorkson should definitely get help from the unions, the financial ombudsman and the HR department of your employer.
Wishing you success and a happy life. Try and keep focus on what matters to you.
Namaste|
Hi @ManjiB and thanks for sharing. I never feel comments are negative if true as you mentioned its just our current reality. I feel energised by our community as I know none of us fight alone.
@HamPorkson its very difficult isn’t it. I had 18 months off & had no pay coming in after 10 months but I wasn’t fit to work so I didn’t.
Have you claimed contributions based ESA? This isn’t means tested and is payable once you have exhausted your entitlement to statutory sick pay. You have to have paid NI contributions in last 2 yeara I think. Have a look at this link.
My maths may be wonky these days but if you are entitled to 6 months full pay and 3 months half pay then, unless that is over a long period of time & you have had other absences in that time, then it looks like you are still entitled to some pay. Our full / half pay period is over 4 years so absences over that period are taken into account. Worth a call to ACAS maybe. Your TU can definitely help too.
I hope you manage to get something sorted & you can only return to work if you are fit to do so. Ask for adjustments too. They may help.
Good luck in your fight.
Best wishes
Ann
Thanks Ann, so sorry to hear about your long recovery and with no / limited funds. Yeah, to my mind I should still be getting somthing and my HR team are impossible to contact. I feel i am fighting for others as well as myself so will definitely pursue. Thanks for the ESA information. Will have a good look through.
Hello @HamPorkson. I am so sorry this continues to be a battle you feel you have no choice but to engage with.
Much empathy from someone who had this for over 12 months with her employer, the main difference being I could not return to work but had to then subsequently negotiate a claim for ill health retirement.
Being expected to return to work under the circumstances you explain is hard to contemplate and I hope you can prioritise your wellbeing above the demands of your employer.
Sorry I do not have any definitive advice.
If living and trying to thrive post stroke is not enough, feeling like you are “fighting” everyday to be understood by organisations/employers/those who are fundamental to our future financial security is exhausting.
You make an entirely valid point that society appears not to understand what they cannot see.
Julia x
Hi Julia, thanks for your reply. So sorry to hear about your battle but I hope retirement has been good for you. The frustration is that I was preparing to return to work soon any way as I needed to test whether I am still capable of doing my job but to have the rug pulled from under me and none of the promised and expexted protections to be available is maddening.