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The UC people say they don't accept indefinite sick notes from GPs. What should I do?

daisy1929

Hi could anybody help please, I have a indefinite sick not from my Gp. The universal credit people say that they don’t except these ,so now I don’t understand all this and how to go forward. Thankyou.

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poppy123456

Hi,

Have you recently been found fit for work after a work capability assessment? If so and your fit notes says the same as the previous ones then this will be the reason why they won't accept it.

daisy1929

Hi poppy, I’ve not had assessment yet but my neurologist has said my illness is progressing.thankyou.

calcotti

Suggest you ask your GP to write you a six month Fit Note.

poppy123456

There's no such thing as an indefinite fit note and this is probably why they won't accept it.

calcotti

poppy123456 said:

There's no such thing as an indefinite fit note and this is probably why they won't accept it.

That’s not correct if it’s for a condition that has persisted for over 6 months. Guidance to GPs on completing Fit Notes states
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fit-note-guidance-for-gps/getting-the-most-out-of-the-fit-note-guidance-for-gps#filling-in-the-fit-note

Indicate the period that your advice applies for. This may be the date that you expect your patient to have recovered by, or your judgement about an appropriate time to review their fitness for work even if they are unlikely to have fully recovered.
You can either:

specify a period from the date of the assessment (as entered in box 1) e.g. this will be the case for 2 weeks; or

specify a particular start and end date. e.g. this will be the case from 5 May to 19 May.

In the first 6 months of a patient’s condition, a fit note can cover a maximum of 3 months. If a condition has lasted longer than 6 months, a fit note can be for any clinically appropriate period up to ‘an indefinite period’. The dates are inclusive, (so a fit note dated from 2 April to 10 April will no longer apply from 11 April onwards).

I am only suggesting GP gets a shorter Fit Note because it may be the most expedient way of progressing matters. There is no legal stipulation that medical evidence has to be in the form of a Fit Note anyway but very hard to persuade DWP of this.

OP, if it’s a new condition then the Fit Note should be limited to 3 months, on expiry your will have to get a new one.

poppy123456

Thanks calcotti. Can't remember where i got that from but happy to be corrected.

calcotti

poppy123456 said:

Thanks calcotti. Can't remember where i got that from but happy to be corrected.

I just remembered reading it when I checked the guidance previously.

poppy123456

I've saved the link because it may come in useful sometime in the future.

calcotti

poppy123456 said:

I've saved the link because it may come in useful sometime in the future.

It’s quite interesting how ambitious (and unrealistic) the guidance is about how the Fit Note can be used.

poppy123456

Indeed. Is there guidance for DWP regarding the maximum length of time a fit note can be for?

calcotti

poppy123456 said:

Indeed. Is there guidance for DWP regarding the maximum length of time a fit note can be for?

There is guidance that says the Fit Note is the most common form of evidence but makes clear that it is not the only form of acceptable evidence. Nonetheless DWP are fixated on Fit Notes.
http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2021-0835/094_Medical_Evidence_including_fit_notes_V7-0.pdf

It also says

Agents must accept medical evidence regardless of the duration stated on it by the health care professional (including indefinite) even when:

 a claimant presents medical evidence issued by a healthcare professional some time before they declare a health condition on Universal Credit

 it’s the first piece of evidence the claimant presents

An alternative approach for OP is to refer DWP to this guidance.

poppy123456

Thanks calcotti, much appreciated.

daisy1929

Hi calcotti,thankyou for sending the links,does it mean my indefinite fit note should have a beginning date on it.as I’ve not worked for a long period of time,and the illness is much worse now.thankyou.

calcotti

I only know what is said in the link I provided.

poppy123456

A fit note usually has a start date on it.

RoseyG

When you report a fit note you have to put a start and end date. Ridiculously and despite the cost, their system isn’t very advanced and there’s no way to enter a fit note without an end date. I’ve seen people be recommended to just put a far date in the future but this can cause problems when verifying if you get a jobsworth work coach verifying. As ridiculous as it is that you have to, your best option is to do as Calcotti suggested and ask your GP to write one with a fixed end date.