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Fit Note Requests Making Me Ill

Hello Everyone,
Thanks to these forums, I qualified for New Style ESA (cont-based) from Jan 2020 to Jan 2021. My GP is providing fortnightly fit notes that I have to request each time (since January).
Having to request these fit notes every fortnight, with all the anxiety and worry this creates, is making me worse (I am unfit for work due to mental health issues). If I don't get ESA, I can't pay my rent, and this is terrifying.
The DWP have written to me and if I don't get a fit note to them by 17/09, they state that I will have to undergo a medical assessment with them. My current fit note ran out 14/09 and my GP hasn't responded to my online fit note request (I have to ring every time for them to send it to me).
Is there any way around this? Does anyone have any knowledge about requesting a longer term fit note? I just can't face doing this for another 5 months, it's really wearing me down.
All advice/information will be greatly appreciated.
Having to request these fit notes every fortnight, with all the anxiety and worry this creates, is making me worse (I am unfit for work due to mental health issues). If I don't get ESA, I can't pay my rent, and this is terrifying.
The DWP have written to me and if I don't get a fit note to them by 17/09, they state that I will have to undergo a medical assessment with them. My current fit note ran out 14/09 and my GP hasn't responded to my online fit note request (I have to ring every time for them to send it to me).
Is there any way around this? Does anyone have any knowledge about requesting a longer term fit note? I just can't face doing this for another 5 months, it's really wearing me down.
All advice/information will be greatly appreciated.
Kind regards,
Milly
Replies
If your GP surgery is anything like mine I imagine they will be really busy and that's probably contributing to the delay you are experiencing.
Is your GP aware that you experience heightened anxiety around requesting your fit-note? If not, would you be comfortable requesting a telephone appointment to explain the situation so they could work to better accommodate your need.
I appreciate it isn't easy when you have anxiety but your GP is there to support you through this.
Please keep us updated with how you get on.
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It also may not b e a bad thing to have the medical assessment as this could result in your being assessed by DWP as not fit for work and then you dont have to send in fit notes anymore
The assessment process will involve completing a form then an assessment (currently phone assessment) then a decisionmaker will make a decision
If you have any further questions just ask
They basically said they wouldn't complete their side of the ESA form without me visiting the surgery. I suffer from agoraphobia, social anxiety, contamination OCD and major fears around anything medical...so a surgery visit was impossible for me at that time. I'd sent emails and letters trying to explain this but they were either ignored or purposely dismissed.
In the end I was forced into another DWP assessment which I obviously had no choice in, but a jobcentre visit was slightly easier than a surgery visit so it was the lesser of two evils. That was over 2.5 years ago, the assessor couldn't understand why my GP was being so awkward as the problems I had were obvious. I haven't had to go through another assessment since! If at all possible, I'd suggest getting the work capability assessment done asap so you can stop having to request the fit notes.
Thank you for your kind replies, they're very much appreciated. Apologies for the delay in getting back to you all, I had a significant mental health wobble. Thankfully, I've now been provided ongoing support from my local NHS community mental health team.
Someone told me that if I'm placed in the ESA Support Group my ESA (cont-based) won't stop and will continue until I'm better. Is this true?
Milly
I haven't completed an ESA50, or had one sent to me. The claim I made was entirely online during the first lockdown in March 2020 (backdated to January). All I've done is send my fit notes online and then I receive a text from DWP that they've received it and to confirm when the payment will go into my bank account.
Regarding UC, I've completed the benefits calculator and I'm not entitled to it due to savings (not easily accessible and requires a signature from an abusive relative I'm currently estranged from, another story entirely). Currently, I'm entirely isolated (of my own making and in large part due to mental health issues) and live alone, have no family/friends/partner to ask for financial help if needed.
Is there any way I can request a paper WCA/ESA50 without speaking to the DWP over the phone? Phoning the DWP is terrifying.
Kind regards,
Milly
I hope you are safe from the abusive relative? You mention you are estranged from them but I just wanted to check.
Also, are you able to manage your mental health? Are you receiving support for it?
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You need to contact the Helath Assessment Advisory Service regarding the ESA50/work capability assessment form because they are the ones that deal with this, not DWP. Contact details for them is here. https://www.chdauk.co.uk/contact-us
It's New style ESA now and yes, it's only paid for 1 year unless placed into the Support Group and then it's paid as long as you remain in that group.
It's too late. Just received a letter from the DWP that the ESA will end mid-January as I'll have had it for 365 days. They just tell me to claim UC (which I'm not entitled to). They never sent me the ESA50 form to complete. Never had a WCA.
In answer to those who asked, I'm currently being supported by a NHS Community Mental Health Practitioner and a Mental Health Support Worker who works for my local council. I've also been working with a NHS Occupational Health Therapist since October 2019 (after I had to resign from my job due to poor mental health).
To be honest, I'm scared and so tired of it all. No jobs to apply for, no income, unemployed, unemployable and mentally unwell. Not looking good.
Best,
Milly
Advice Local is a great suggestion from Poppy, I would advise visiting that page and seeing if what they offer might be appropriate for you.
Even though things might seem difficult at the moment, I'm sure they will get better soon, and of course the community will support as best as we can.
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Thank you for your very quick response (wasn't expecting a response so soon and went to bed straight after posting)!
I've called the number you mentioned in your reply (0800 288 8777) and they said they'll send the form out and that it needs to be completed asap. They couldn't answer whether or not a decision will be made before the claim is due to be stopped in mid-January and that it will be up to the DWP. They just said mark the envelope as 'urgent' (scared to do this as it might annoy the DWP).
After reading lots and lots of information on benefit advice websites last night, if they stop my ESA claim I won't be entitled to any other benefits due to the savings. Had they sent the form earlier and I'd been placed in the Support Group they couldn't have stopped the ESA claim. It's so very frustrating, anxiety-inducing and demoralising.
Regarding the savings, I'm trying to contact Citizens Advice/local advice services to see what they suggest (most places seem to be offering a reduced service, so it's slow going). What worries me most is how long it might take to get access to the savings. In the meantime, my bills/rent/food need paying for.
Thanks again for your responses, means a lot and is very much appreciated.
Best wishes,
Milly
Thanks for your kind words, means a lot, especially being so isolated. Without this website I don't think I'd have survived this long!
Best wishes,
Milly
Does this mean that they won't close/end my claim mid-January 2021? If so, it might give me time to get the medical evidence (mental health support worker has offered to write a letter) and complete the form. Might be a longshot, but I'm obsessing over everything now
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Also, in terms of the estrangement from your relative, would you be able to contact a local advocacy service and ask for support regarding the financial matter i.e. could they advocate on your behalf with the relative/bank etc? That said, I think some advocacy services only accept referrals from other agencies e.g. Social Services or CMHTs, so it might be something else to ask your CMHT support worker? CMHT staff will know whether they need to make a referral or whether you can access the service directly by yourself.
Hope these suggestions help a little I can fully relate to you terror of contacting DWP by phone too. I was on hold for two hours and thirty-seven minutes the other day, and as stressful as it was holding on I was actually relieved when I got cut off! Anyone normal would be furious at wasting their time like that but not me - I was relieved I didn't have to speak to an official person! lol
Wouldn't it be wonderful if everything could be done online? I certainly find I can (sometimes!) articulate better when writing than speaking. Plus, everything seems to take forever .... I know it doesn't but it feels like that, eh?
In the meantime, try to keep your chin up and remember to make use of the support you have via the CMHT and on here.
Scope
If you have a few minutes to spare, we'd appreciate your feedback on our online community.
Apologies for the urgency, sometimes I just can't face dealing with them and avoid it until it's possibly too late.
Scope
If you have a few minutes to spare, we'd appreciate your feedback on our online community.
Many thanks for your email, just a quick note to let you know I've replied with the information you requested.
Best wishes,
Milly