New style ESA. Can you stop sending sick notes to work if you're put in Support Group?

newstyle
newstyle Online Community Member Posts: 5 Listener
edited April 2022 in Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
I have a friend claiming new style ESA. Dwp have put them into the Support Group and no longer are required to send sick notes. However the friend has been sending sick notes to work for quite a while now can they stop sending the sick notes to work knowing this is now a long term illness? Also if they called for any review meeting with work can they just say they are too unwell?

It's been a while since they have been put into the support group so would ignoring work or telling them to do one cause any issues now the person is deemed unfit to work by DWP?

could you advise?

Comments

  • newstyle
    newstyle Online Community Member Posts: 5 Listener
    The person is clearly in no fit condition to do much I am just debating does his work need to know anything now once in this situation. How long could this go on for?
  • janer1967
    janer1967 Online Community Member Posts: 21,922 Championing
    Hi and welcome to the community 

    They will still need to provide fit notes to work while they are employed the dwp decision does not stop their obligations to keep work updated 

    If work require them to attend meetings then this will still be required . However if the gp provides a note to say they are unfit to attend meetings its possible they may take this into account 

    I would suggest if there is no possibility of returning to work in the near future they discuss the options with their employer and look at possible medical dismissal rather than just resign 

    Acas is a good website for employee related advice 
  • newstyle
    newstyle Online Community Member Posts: 5 Listener
    Can't the person just refuse to do anything and would his benefit claim be affected given now he is in the support group? He can do without all this nonsense with work that he is simply unfit to do or attend?
  • janer1967
    janer1967 Online Community Member Posts: 21,922 Championing
    It wouldn't affect the benefit claim . 

    But doing nothing and ignoring his employers isn't the right thing to do . They have kept this job open for them . Failure to respond or communicate could result in dismissal 

    He may want a reference one day 

    It's very disrespectful and not fair to not keep them informed and keeping to job open prevents other people being recruited into his role and I'm sure many out there are desperate for the work in the current climate 

    I'm not being harsh but if he doesn't want the job or the responsibility of keeping in touch then he should discuss his termination if he is no longer fit to work 

Categories