Hi, my name is xxjanexx! Do I need to provide a fit note every 7 days?

Please be very careful about ringing the helpline because they are not trained benefits advisors. In fact it would be the last place I'd advise you to ring. They are call centre staff with very little benefits knowledge, apart from sitting there reading from a screen. I've known them give some truly shocking advice to many people.

If you have access to a journal everything can be done through there. Once you have a fit note you can log into that journal and click "provide a fit note" it will ask you for details of that fit note. You must keep that fit note just incase they ask for it, which they may.

Hmm can't say I would recommend Citizens Advice either, sorry. Having advised many thousands of people on here, I can't tell you how many times the CA have given some really terrible advice. Although they do have a help to claim phone line, which I haven't heard of anything negative from.

Have you actually submitted your claim for UC? Whether you have or haven't I'd be happy to advise you with any questions you have.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/help-to-claim/

You're welcome. The reason it asks to provide a fit note is because you reported your health condition. You and your husband can both report your health conditions and provide a fit note each but only one of you can receive the extra money for LCWRA anyway. It's a very stressful process which is why I advised just the one of you going through it.

As a carer yourself, you have no commitments anyway, which means you don't have to attend appointments or look for work.

Apologies, I mistook this thread with a different one. Yes, you will need to provide a fit note for yourself. As long as possible because you need to continue to provide them without gaps until a decision is made on your work capability assessment. That can take anything up to several months.

If it's short dated then you'll need another one and that can be frustrating asking for another fit note all the time.

That will be fine to start with but you'll need to provide another once that one has expired. Please make sure there's no gaps because that can affect when the extra money is paid from if found to have LCWRA.

They ask you to provide the details on it but may also ask to see it so make sure you keep it.

For UC you will be treated as a job seeker until a decision is made on the WCA. A work coach has discretion to either turn off or reduce commitments, some do and others don't. If they ask to see you in person you can ask for a telephone appointment as a reasonable adjustment.

For the work capability assessment. (WCA) you will be referred usually from day 29 of your claim, although can be later sometimes. Once referred you will receive a letter on your journal telling you this and a few days later you'll receive the UC50 form in the post. You will need to make sure you fill it in and return it no later than the date in the letter. Any additional evidence you have should be sent with the form.

Most people have assessments so you should expect one of those, they are mostly by telephone. Some are face to face or video. If you prefer telephone you can request that and change it if needed.

You can see the descriptors here for LCWRA

https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/universal-credit-uc/uc-faq/limited-capability-for-work-related-activity

LCW is here.

https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/universal-credit-uc/uc-faq/limited-capability-for-work

The letter referring you for the WCA will be uploaded onto your journal. The UC50 form will be sent in the post and you do not need fit notes for that. Fit notes are needed for UC itself and they are not proof that you have LCW.

You're welcome.