Continuation Fit Note for ESA (contributions based) - when and how to send to please?

sitesafe

Good morning

Just contacted money advice service who were unable to give me the answer.  I also called DWP three times but was on hold for 23 minutes before being automatically cut off.  Hoped someone might know the answer please.

I've received ESA contributions based whilst recovering from major surgery for the past six weeks.  Fit note was dated from 27/06/2020 for six weeks so assume expires after Friday this week.  GP supposedly issuing me with new fit note for another six weeks which I can collect on Friday.

I wanted to ask if anyone knows:

Who I should give this to? Is it DWP (no one asked for it last time probably due to covid situation). 

When should it be submitted? (considering current one runs out after Friday when I'm meant to be collecting renewal, I'm concerned it may be too late and my ESA will be stopped?

I've seen there's an online facility where you can send fit notes so maybe this.  I've been given no details in my postal correspondence on what to do when note runs out.

Many thanks in advance

TELLIT01

See here https://www.gov.uk/send-fit-note

sitesafe

TELLIT01 said:

See here https://www.gov.uk/send-fit-note

Thank you, i've accessed this - it doesn't tell you when you should send by.  Do you know if it would be ok to send continuation fit note on a Friday which is the day it will run out do you know (was dated on Sat 27 June for 6 weeks so last day I believe is Friday 8 August?  Or will this be too late?  TIA

poppy12345

Sending it Friday or Staurday will be fine. A lot of GPs will not write another fit note until the existing one has run out, so DWP do give extra time to send it.

sitesafe

poppy12345 said:

Sending it Friday or Staurday will be fine. A lot of GPs will not write another fit note until the existing one has run out, so DWP do give extra time to send it.

Thank you poppy12345 that'sgood to know

charlies_tribe

I had no idea what to do with mine either. I received a letter in the post with an envelope to send it back in, I had 2 to send the first time. I then got an text with a link to send the next one by the date they said. Will see if I can find the link.

charlies_tribe

 https://www.gov.uk/send-fit-note
I just scanned the last one in to here and then received an text saying when they needed the next one by. This one expires on the 15th and they want the new one by the 24th (i think) so you do seem to get a few days.

TELLIT01

It's possible things have changed since I worked on ESA but, at that time, if a fit note expired less than 10 days before the next payment was due, we automatically extended the fit note to the next payment date.  For example, a fit note expiry date of the 20th would be extended if the payment date was on or before the 29th.  At that time there were some ridiculous delays in receiving fit notes with the consequent issues of claimants not receiving payment on the due date.