fit notes

Torry_Quine

A GP can say you are unfit for work and at the same time the D W P can say that you are able to undertake job searching and preparing for work. 

Newcad

shellie65 said:

hi can some one give me advice i am currently out of work now due to health reasons my doctor has signed me off from work and now the job centre have told me i am fit for work and says i have to look for work now and they have also put me on a restart programme which i think is unacceptable as i have been like this for 2 years now and the problems not getting any better they say if i dont go on these courses or other thing i will be sanctioned

We need more information from shellie65 before anyone can give the right advice.

Shellie, please answer the following:

• Have you had a Work Capability Assessment (WCA) yet?
• If you have had a WCA then what was the award outcome?
  If you haven't had a WCA yet then:
  
• How long have you been claiming UC? It must have been for a while if they are putting you on Restart.
• How long have you been giving Fit Notes to the Jobcentre/DWP?
• If you have been giving them Fit Notes for more than 29 days then have you been given a form UC50 to fill in?

As a starting point until we have those answers:
When you first go sick on UC you are usually 'treated as' having Limited Capability for Work (LCW).
That means you will not be expected to apply for jobs, but you will still be expected to look for jobs you could apply for and to prepare for being able to work in future.

At that stage you are only 'treated as' LCW, so that preperation could include attending a programme such as Restart.

What happens after that stage depends on just where on your 'Health Journey' you are, which is why you need to answer the questions above.

I suspect that you may already have had a Work Capability Assessment at which you have been found Fit-for-Work, but you need to confirm if that is what has happened before anyone can advise you what to do next.