Working 16 hours down to 12

kazzyd_2

So my fit note expired yesterday. I've had 3 reminders from Universal Credit to say it was expiring.
I phoned the surgery yesterday, twice and was told it would be done today at the latest. I've called 3 times today and I still don't have it.
I get that it can backdated but will this affect my LCW claim? I know there's not meant to be any gaps at all.

Spoonie_Turtle

kazzyd_2 said:

So my fit note expired yesterday. I've had 3 reminders from Universal Credit to say it was expiring.
I phoned the surgery yesterday, twice and was told it would be done today at the latest. I've called 3 times today and I still don't have it.
I get that it can backdated but will this affect my LCW claim? I know there's not meant to be any gaps at all.

Shouldn't do, because the dates will cover continuously without any gap.

kazzyd_2

Spoonie_Turtle said:

kazzyd_2 said:

So my fit note expired yesterday. I've had 3 reminders from Universal Credit to say it was expiring.
I phoned the surgery yesterday, twice and was told it would be done today at the latest. I've called 3 times today and I still don't have it.
I get that it can backdated but will this affect my LCW claim? I know there's not meant to be any gaps at all.

Shouldn't do, because the dates will cover continuously without any gap.

Thank you 🙂

kazzyd_2

So sorry for all the questions. So, I have my Fit Note. However, on the first one she had written, fit work work with the following advice.... Reduction in hours. Which is exactly what I'm doing.
On this new one, she's written not fit for work. Do I use this one or ask for a new one? I shall be continuing to work.

kazzyd_2

Just got a date for my WCA, next Wednesday. Just got a text saying remember your WCA, haven't had any other notice though 🤷🏻‍♀️

So, I'm on annual leave at the minute, have been since I got my fit note, due back on Saturday and although I'm struggling mentally with work, even while being off its constantly on my mind,  I do plan to go back on Saturday.

My current fit note says I'm not fit for work, think she made a mistake cos last one was fit with reduced hours. So, working while my fit note says not fit, will this affect anything?
I would prefer to be off but I got a written warning in July because I was off with Covid and it triggered their targets. Plus, I work in retail and I don't want to let them down at their busiest time.

poppy12345

kazzyd_2 said:

My current fit note says I'm not fit for work, think she made a mistake cos last one was fit with reduced hours. So, working while my fit note says not fit, will this affect anything?

No, not unless the work you do contradicts the reasons why you're claiming limited capability for work.

Remember that during the assessment they will ask you questions about your health conditions and how they affect you. Try not to answer any questions with just a yes or no. Try to give as much detail as possible.

kazzyd_2

poppy12345 said:

kazzyd_2 said:

My current fit note says I'm not fit for work, think she made a mistake cos last one was fit with reduced hours. So, working while my fit note says not fit, will this affect anything?

No, not unless the work you do contradicts the reasons why you're claiming limited capability for work.

Remember that during the assessment they will ask you questions about your health conditions and how they affect you. Try not to answer any questions with just a yes or no. Try to give as much detail as possible.

Thank you Poppy. One of my conditions is anxiety & depression, like I can't go out and I'm not good with people. I'm in retail so constantly meeting people so it does kinda contradict it. Work is really the only place I do go and when I'm there, it's like I put my work mask on even though inside I can't handle it, if that makes sense.
I don't know whether to go back on Saturday now or take a week off, my fit note is dated until near end January.

kazzyd_2

So I've just had my assessment, it lasted 30 minutes or something. We went through my medication.
Asked about getting out of breath due to respiratory problems, which is only a chronic cough . Then she asked about my arthritis. She said it wasn't on the list of conditions from the GP, I said that's what they told me and that it was mild. 
We quickly touched on my mobility, about standing. Asked if I needed help dressing. Who comes to visit me. Didn't ask anything about anxiety or the Neuropathy, which is actually what most of my pain is down to.
So I mentioned it to her. She said she had enough information on my mobility and she could put it in but it wouldn't make any difference. What does that mean 🤷🏻‍♀️ It's my major thing that's causing me mobility issues.

So I'm not sure how it went, she was lovely and did say she hopes this get better for me soon. 
I'll just have to wait and see.

kazzyd_2

So after a bit of a restless night, just thinking about my assessment, I have a couple of questions.

With her not mentioning the Neuropathy pain, which is my main reason for reducing hours, she said she had enough information on my mobility and it wouldn't change anything, why not. My knee problem, which is what she asked about, does not contribute to even half the pain I'm in. Is it a good thing she had enough information, is it because I put enough information on the form? Because I didn't get a chance to explain the pain, surely if I did, that would make difference to her report?

Also the depression and anxiety, which I'm currently off work with, that wasn't mentioned at all.

Kind off rhetorical questions but just wondering what you think?

poppy12345

They don't always ask about all of your conditions. They could have had enough of information without needing to ask. The form is there for you to give as much information as possible which would prevent further questions being asked during the assessment.

It's very easy to second guess yourself at the stage but try not to worry too much (easier said than done i know) hopefully the decision won't be too much longer, sometimes a decision is made quite quickly when claiming UC. Once it's made a letter will be uploaded onto your journal.