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UC do I have to attend while on fit note?

ditzy

Hi all, newbie here, thanks for letting me join!

For info I’ve struggled all through my life with my mental health, and at 53 I’m also now on the waiting list for diagnosis for ADHD and Autism, which I only found out about last summer.

To make a very long story short, I have been working self employed through a company, still getting UC due to the amount of hours. There was a big mess made of my UC by a previous work coach, and my current work coach has decided to dig into every aspect of my claim, says I have lots of money to pay back, even though it’s not my fault, and to be honest caused me so much anxiety that I’m now off sick with anxiety and depression.

I’ve not felt this bad for years, and right now I’m not sure I’ll be able to go back to my job, even if they keep it open for me, which they probably won’t due to it being self employed.

I now have a fit note for 3 weeks, the work coach says I have to have an appointment at the end of every fit note and has made an appointment for THE DAY AFTER this fit note ends. TBH I’m really unwell mentally right now and my doctor has already said about giving me a longer fit note at the end of the 3 weeks.

Will I have to attend that appointment? Or will a consecutive fit note mean I don’t need to attend?

Thanks 🙏

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poppy123456

When claiming UC you’re classed as a job seeker until a decision is made on your work capability assessment.

It’s a work coaches discretion whether they turn off or reduce work commitments. Some do and others don’t. You can speak to your work coach and explain your health condition and ask if you can have telephone appointments as a reasonable adjustment.

You will need to make sure you continue to send fit notes without any gaps until a decision is made on your work capability assessment.

Cher_Alumni

Hi @Ditsy and a warm welcome to our online community, how are you today?

I'm sorry to hear the work commitments and mismanagement of your UC are having this harmful impact on your mental health. Do you feel that you have sufficient support from your GP to navigate this difficult time? It sounds like your doctor is understanding of the situation by offering to extend a future fit note so that's reassuring.

Please do look into requesting a telephone appointment, as recommended by Poppy. And, if you can, keep us posted with how you get on.

Take care.

Wilshyboy

If you get a decent work coach like i had you'll be OK, When he saw me struggling to get up for the first time, He was the 2nd one to see me, He helped me up and to his desk sat me down, and arranged it so that i would never have to go in again, He would ring me once every 2 weeks, ask how i was and after a bit of small talk would hang up. He arranged my Health assessment for me as well, there are good, bad, and brilliant work coaches out there, mine was the latter. You have my sympathies because you have got a jobsworth unfortunately. My doctor used to give me a fit note for 12 weeks at a time. Perhaps your doctor could write to them explaining your situation? Please keep me posted as to how you get on.

poppy123456

tomm said:

poppy123456 said:

When claiming UC you’re classed as a job seeker until a decision is made on your work capability assessment.

What a barmy system, If you are unfit to work they should not be treating you are a jobseeker, ESA they didn't do this only whilst awaiting an Appeal

Indeed they didn't but ESA is a completely different benefit to UC. Though i'm not saying i agree that someone with a health condition should be treated as a job seeker.

ditzy

poppy123456 said:

When claiming UC you’re classed as a job seeker until a decision is made on your work capability assessment.

Thank you so much for your very helpful reply.

Do you know how I go about having a work capability assessment? I can’t see any mention of it in my journal or on the to do page etc.

poppy123456

Assuming you've already "reported a change of circumstances" then click "health" and report it this way. Then you can report your fit note.

Your work coach should refer you about 29 days after you report your health condition. Once this is done you'll receive a letter on your journal telling you that you've been referred. Shortly after this you'll receive the UC50 form in the post. You will need to make sure you fill this in and return it with all your supporting evidence no later than the deadline in the letter.

Once they receive this you'll very likely need an assessment, which are mostly by telephone. Once the assessment is complete a report will be written and returned to DWP. A decision maker will then make a decision. All of this could potentially take several months.

ditzy

Thank you all for your kind and helpful comments.

I think the GP seems to be ok, I’ve not met her before so hoping I have found a good one. Better than the work coach certainly!

ditzy

Thank you Poppy, yes I did the change of circumstances a couple of days into being off sick. I’ve also put the fit note on there, so I’ll keep looking for the referral by the work coach and the letter.

Thank you again, you’ve been so helpful x

poppy123456

You can see the descriptors for LCWRA here. https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/universal-credit-uc/uc-faq/limited-capability-for-work-related-activity only one of these needs to apply the majority of the time.

You can also see the UC50 form here. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uc50-form-universal-credit-capability-for-work-questionnaire

This can be filled in online (very useful if you find writing difficult) but you'll need a printer to print if off. Even if you don't have a printer you can still start to fill it in and save it. This will allow you to get ahead of them before you receive the form by allowing you extra time to fill it in.

Make sure you give as much information as possible, without telling your life story. Include a couple of real world incidents of exactly what happened the last time you attempted each activity that applies to you. Use extra sheets of paper too, if needed. Don't forget to put your name and NI number on everything you send and only send copies. Always keep a copy for yourself.

These forms are the worst for me and i always prefer to do a little each day and then save it ready for the following day. Hope this helps a little anyway.

tifo

poppy123456 said:

When claiming UC you’re classed as a job seeker until a decision is made on your work capability assessment.

Unfortunately this is how UC works.

I had continuous fit notes for 3 years (up to after my MR for the assessment) yet I was still classed as a job seeker and had to attend the job centre regularly. I had decent work coaches and they could see I wasn't capable of work. Due to the DWP then covid I had my WCA after 2 years and 6 months. Got LCW.

poppy123456

tifo said:

poppy123456 said:

When claiming UC you’re classed as a job seeker until a decision is made on your work capability assessment.

Unfortunately this is how UC works.

Indeed, which is why advised that.

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