Med 3 sick notes

neenaw_4

Does anybody know how long the maximum length of time a GP can write on a Med 3 sick note for incapacity for work? I got my last one about a month ago and I was sure my doctor had written "26/52" on it and I had assumed that meant he was signing me off for 26/52 weeks. But I've just got a letter today from the DWP saying my sick note has run out and I need a new one.

Are sick notes only for a month and am I going to have to go to my doctor every month to get one?

Benefit~Guru

The doctor can sign you off for a longer period than a month depending on your illness - you might want to elaborate on that - (you may not!).

some doctors write xx months on Med 3's some are weird and write things like 1/12 (one month) - 26/52 would certainly mean 6 months then - it might be that the job centre got confused - they should be able to show you a copy of the note if you go in and request it. If you can get this and your benefit has been stopped - your first move should be to write a quick note to job centre askign for a reconsideration of the decision - this way your claim is not shut down.

Hope that helps a little

neenaw_4

that's fantastic, thank you! i got the letter today saying my med3 ran out on 25th august - that's today! lol i'm assuming they will give me some time to get another one but first i'll go down and ask them if they have made a mistake cos i'm certain my doctor wrote 26/52 so thanks for clarifying what the 26/52 actually means.

hjb123

Just ring the jobcentre/wherever up and explain that the sicknote that you sent in was for 6 months. They arent exactly the best organised people at the jobcentre! I had a letter at the end of March telling me that my sick note is due to run out on 20th January 2006! This was 2 months previously! 3 weeks before I received this letter I won an appeal tribunal to prove that I wasnt fit for work - I explained this to them and they were nice as pie and said sorry bout that and that they would sort it out at their end!

neenaw_4

i've just written a letter. i can't be doing with dealing with them on the phone. the last time i spoke to them they said they couldn't find it. one day they might train the monkeys that work in the job centre huh

thanks x

hjb123

Make sure that you send the letters by recorded delivery and take a copy of the letter too so that you have proof of what you sent, when it was sent and if it was received by them!

Smashing

neenaw wrote:

i've just written a letter. i can't be doing with dealing with them on the phone. the last time i spoke to them they said they couldn't find it. one day they might train the monkeys that work in the job centre huh

thanks x

A letter is usually a better bet - they tend to need everything in writing. Plus information given over the phone has a 'funny way' of getting lost.

Also definitely keep a copy of the letter & get a proof of postage certificate - once again, these people manage to lose nigh-on everything.

Fleago

Neenaw,

You could also phone your GP's surgery, or pop in, and ask the receptionist to check your file. In all likelihood the GP will have written in your notes the length of the Med 3 they issued you with. That way, you'll know for sure that you are right when you contact the Jobcentre or if you're mistaken after all you can just make an appointment there and then to get a new one

Good luck,

Fleago

neenaw_4

update is that they rang me back after receiving my letter. they said my sick note is from 1st july for 8 weeks - that's what it says "on the system". i'm positive it said 26/52 (really wish i took a photocopy - i'll know next time) so i asked them to check the actual note and they "can't place it just now" but will phone me back.

:rolleyes:

update again: they've still not got my certificate in front of them but it's on the system as 8 weeks so I've to get another one. it's much easier to do that than to argue with them or try to prove them otherwise. i shall photocopy my next one though!

thanks.

krisskross

neenaw wrote:

i one day they might train the monkeys that work in the job centre huh

thanks x

This is so rude as well as unnecessary. There are several people who work in various Government departments who give valuable advice on these forums. Would suggest that when you are fit for work you get a job in a job centre and find out what the general public are often like to deal with.

DrFluffy

26/52 definitely means 26 weeks - as already pointed out. (1/7 - one day; 1/12 - one month, 1/52 - one week).

Put it down to experience and photocopy the next one for your records.

Alternatively you could ask your GP - his records should cite how long he signed you off for...