DWP tells man with broken leg to quit £40,000 job in order to get help

An electrician has been told to quit his £40,000 a year job after breaking his leg in order to get help from the Department for Work and Pensions. The DWP told an electrician from Shropshire to quit his £40k position and find work elsewhere - after he broke his leg and requested help from the benefits department.

Martin Flowers suffered an accident while working in Wolverhampton. The 60-year-old, who has been living off £415 a month Statuary Sick Pay (SSP) since January, put in a claim for Universal Credit to help pay his bills.

He said: “Since I have had my accident, my employer has been as good as gold. While I had only been there for three weeks, they have kept me on while I recover. They even laid staff off earlier this year but still kept me on."

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The electrician, who hails from Newport, broke his leg at work in the Black Country but was cruelly told by the Department for Work and Pensions to quit his job as an electrician and find a job where he doesn't have to walk as he's fit for work now.

He was told his workplace would welcome him back in July when he is expected to be declared fit to work by his doctor. You can get £116.75 per week Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) if you’re too ill to work. It’s paid by your employer for up to 28 weeks.

You cannot get less than the statutory amount. You can get more if your company has a sick pay scheme (or ‘occupational scheme’) - check your employment contract. If you’re eligible, you can get £116.75 a week Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) for up to 28 weeks.

You’ll be paid SSP for all the days you’re off sick that you normally would have worked, except for the first 3.