LCW / Fit Notes and meting with job coach

another_casualty

Howdy ! 

I just thought I'd explain my latest situation regarding the above ..

I find it a bit confusing , but having the award and being a recipient of UC  I of course comply with everything and go by instruction to the best of my ability .

The short answer to " do I have to keep providing fit notes when I have LCW?" , is No ! 

I know this now from my latest appointment ( the first face to face in jobcentre ) with my job coach today. 

She advised me that I don't need to keep providing them . " why are you still doing it ?" Etc
No problems with job coach .  I told her that on my journal there are 3 or 4 messages advising me that if I don't provide a new one I'd be deemed fit for work . I complied because I didn't want to lose everything ( a bit dramatic but I don't want to be sanctiomed etc) 
She was shaking her head in disbelief .  It seems now the penny has dropped and that the warnings were auto -pilot so to speak and general for all , 

It will be impossible to be brief here , but I'll try ;
1) she asked me do I still see a doctor . Obviously it's very difficult as she of course understood . My last fit note was done by phone
The last time I saw one was in November when I had a stomach issue . I told her that I was given a fit note at that time .
I get 6 monthly fit notes . I explained that I do get six weekly blood tests . 

2) she asked me what I do if anything to help with my condition . I explained I do have weekly workouts with personal trainer plus workouts which I do pay for (£40 pm ) she agreed that it's tailored to my needs and a good idea. I explained that he also phones and tackles my well being etc ontop of the training and support hand help is massive . Not sure I should have mentioned I pay for it but it is cheap in comparison to other places.

3) she did say looking at me she could see I'm LCW as if to agree I'm not lying 

4) I was prepared for  discussion about the preparation for work issues I had last time . ( New CV created by a Careers Advisrr / home computer course that never happened / my efforts to prepare to look for work) 
None of this was mentioned . My next appointment is in 3 months time ; " work focused interview"

5) finally she did say that I will be reassessed for LCW . I understand this and told her that I'm expecting it  but due to backlog it hasn't happened yet. My impression is that she will push for an early re assessment If possible , and then I'll have to go 5hrough the appeal situation again to prove I am not fit for work .

It may be useful information , but thanks for reading if you got this far ..

NedS

Yes, you / your work coach are correct. After you have had an assessment and have been awarded LCW (or LCWRA), you no longer need to provide fit notes as DWP have accepted that your condition affects your ability to work. As you say, it's likely the notifications in the journal are automatic (still, the system should know you no longer need to provide them) so you can just ignore them. I think it reminds you 3 times as the last fit note is due to expire, then after that you should not receive any further reminders.

another_casualty

NedS said:

Yes, you / your work coach are correct. After you have had an assessment and have been awarded LCW (or LCWRA), you no longer need to provide fit notes as DWP have accepted that your condition affects your ability to work. As you say, it's likely the notifications in the journal are automatic (still, the system should know you no longer need to provide them) so you can just ignore them. I think it reminds you 3 times as the last fit note is due to expire, then after that you should not receive any further reminders.

Thanks and apolgies . you are very quick with great advice .
I pressed the wrong button and post wasn't finished 😼

NedS

another_casualty said:

Howdy ! 

I just thought I'd explain my latest situation regarding the above ..

I find it a bit confusing , but having the award and being a recipient of UC  I of course comply with everything and go by instruction to the best of my ability .

The short answer to " do I have to keep providing fit notes when I have LCW?" , is No ! 

I know this now from my latest appointment ( the first face to face in jobcentre ) with my job coach today. 

She advised me that I don't need to keep providing them . " why are you still doing it ?" Etc
No problems with job coach .  I told her that on my journal there are 3 or 4 messages advising me that if I don't provide a new one I'd be deemed fit for work . I complied because I didn't want to lose everything ( a bit dramatic but I don't want to be sanctiomed etc) 
She was shaking her head in disbelief .  It seems now the penny has dropped and that the warnings were auto -pilot so to speak and general for all , 

It will be impossible to be brief here , but I'll try ;
1) she asked me do I still see a doctor . Obviously it's very difficult as she of course understood . My last fit note was done by phone
The last time I saw one was in November when I had a stomach issue . I told her that I was given a fit note at that time .
I get 6 monthly fit notes . I explained that I do get six weekly blood tests . 

2) she asked me what I do if anything to help with my condition . I explained I do have weekly workouts with personal trainer plus workouts which I do pay for (£40 pm ) she agreed that it's tailored to my needs and a good idea. I explained that he also phones and tackles my well being etc ontop of the training and support hand help is massive . Not sure I should have mentioned I pay for it but it is cheap in comparison to other places.

3) she did say looking at me she could see I'm LCW as if to agree I'm not lying 

4) I was prepared for  discussion about the preparation for work issues I had last time . ( New CV created by a Careers Advisrr / home computer course that never happened / my efforts to prepare to look for work) 
None of this was mentioned . My next appointment is in 3 months time ; " work focused interview"

5) finally she did say that I will be reassessed for LCW . I understand this and told her that I'm expecting it  but due to backlog it hasn't happened yet. My impression is that she will push for an early re assessment If possible , and then I'll have to go 5hrough the appeal situation again to prove I am not fit for work .

It may be useful information , but thanks for reading if you got this far ..

My thoughts:

1) She's just getting a background feel for your situation without actually asking how you are (big mistake as all you then do is talk about your health!)

2) Here she is looking for some activities she can put on your commitments - anything you are already doing that will help improve your condition is an easy add to your commitments as it's something you are already doing so not confrontational.

3) Displaying empathy, hopefully trying to build a relationship with you and establish trush.

4) Early days, she most likely wants to build a relationship / trust before asking you to do things you may not want to do. No point alienating you at your first meeting.

5) Purely factual - you will have another assessment at some point - she's just making sure you are aware of that. The work coach holds no sway over when assessments happen as that is all outsourced and they certainly have no input. As I understand, no reassessments are currently happening due to backlogs, so only new claims are being assessed at present. That will change at some point, but no idea when.

another_casualty

Thanks again @NedS. 

One other thing crossed my mind ..
When I declared my latest fit note in May, I received a response from a different person on my UC journal advising me that my fit note has been accepted ,and to advise them if anything changes . Standard response the latter, but if I'm not supposed to send anymore fit notes I don't understand why that person needed to respond .
Then again , they could potentially have been difficult I suppose ...
I also received the standard acknowledgement / acceptance of fit note also .