Macmillan Welfare Rights Officer, Gwynedd Council Welfare Rights Unit Member since 13th Nov 2006
Polish nationals and benefits Thu 17-Jul-08 03:41 PM
Have got a very interesting situation which I hope someone can give me some advice on.
Young Polish lad (25) arrives in the UK on 16/2/08 and subsequently starts working for a UK employer on 9/3/08. Contracts leukaemia and is admitted to hospital on 16/4/08 and has been ever since and will be for some time. Employer is paying SSP at the moment.
Because of his illness the process of applying to the Workers Registration Scheme was never started. The employer is willing to provide a letter with all the necessary information and the extraordinary circumstances of his employment if he wishes to apply for registration.
I'm trying to work out whether or not it is worth him paying to get himself registered on the WRS now so that he can argue that he has a right to reside in the UK as a worker if he had to claim IS/IB when (or if) he is discharged. What happens if his employer decides to terminate his employment because he will not be able to go back because of his illness??
