Do you need a fit note to get a WCA?

stupidaspie

If you've declared conditions affecting your ability to work in your application for UC, is that sufficient to trigger a WCA, or will it not happen without a Fit Note?

calcotti

It theory it is not necessary for medical evidence to be provided as a Fit Note. However in practice it seems to be difficult to get a WCA triggered without a Fit Note. You undoubtedly need some evidence - declaring a condition is not sufficient.
http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2019-0980/78._Medical_Evidence_including_Fit_notes_v5.0.pdf

stupidaspie

Would notes from mental health services (obtained by SAR) be acceptable as evidence? And would I have to provide the evidence to the DWP in order to begin the process for a WCA?

calcotti

Yes evidence will need to be provided. As already advised a Fit Note is the most reliable form of evidence and will make your claim smoother. Other forms of evidence may not be accepted not withstanding the guidance.

poppy12345

Evidence of how your conditions affect your ability to do any type of work is also useful to send with the WCA form, when you do receive it.

stupidaspie

Even if you don't want a WCA, is it still worth mentioning any disabilities in the part of the form with the question about conditions affecting ability to work? I presume that if you declared them without providing evidence, the DWP wouldn't do a WCA but your work coach could take them into account when it comes to commitments?

poppy12345

Potentially your work coach can yes but as you have a health condition that prevents your ability to work then why don't you want to go through the WCA?

stupidaspie

poppy12345 said:

Potentially your work coach can yes but as you have a health condition that prevents your ability to work then why don't you want to go through the WCA?

I have various and pretty substantial challenges but I've never had a job so my abillity to work has never really been tested. In light of that, it might be quite difficult to get a fit note from a GP.

poppy12345

If your GP refuses to give you a fit note then see a different one. You really should go through the WCA assesment because if you don't and you don't complete your work commitments then you could be sanctioned.

pebbles88

Hi op
to trigger a WCA under uni credit would require fit notes. However as another poster said, you need to talk with your work coach & declare conditions that affect what you can do so that they can tailor you commitments for you. 

HTH :-)

stupidaspie

To be honest, the real reason I don't want to get Fit Notes is because I've moved to a new area and don't want to tell my GP in case a new GP won't prescribe me Dianette, which I've taken for years for acne but which some GPs won't prescribe. I'm terrified of coming off it because acne tends to recur badly when you do. I didn't say that before because paranoia puts me off providing detail in my posts.

I haven't claimed UC yet but I'm looking for housing on my own for the first time to get back to the borough my family's moved from so as much as I don't want to, I'm going to have to claim it sooner than I thought.

The only other evidence I could obtain is session notes or a supporting statement from Talking Therapies, which has just discharged me, and it's not a psychiatric service.

I'm guessing that if I declared my conditions on the UC form without providing Fit Notes, and explained to the Work Coach how they affect me, I might get tailored commitments but no WCA?

At least that would be a compromise.