Advice needed about fit note and universal credit

Annie2347

Hello,

I’ve had some wonderful and much appreciated help and advice on another thread about universal credit.

I just phoned our GP to ask for a fit note for my son’s universal credit application and the GP said he doesn’t need one as DWP will get in touch with them. 

Is this correct? As my son can’t make it to an assessment centre I was hoping that this could be supported by medical support. 

Be grateful for any advice. 

sammyjammy

The fit note is required to cover your son from having to seek work up until a decision is made on his capability for work, once he has been assessed the fit notes will no longer be required but this will not happen quickly.  The fitnote will normally come in the format of a text message with a link in it, you can either print this or upload it to his journal once its up and running.

Annie2347

Thank you for the clarification, I really appreciate it. 

tacpot12

sammyjammy said:

The fit note is required to cover your son from having to seek work up until a decision is made on his capability for work, once he has been assessed the fit notes will no longer be required but this will not happen quickly.  The fitnote will normally come in the format of a text message with a link in it, you can either print this or upload it to his journal once its up and running.

I'm suprised the GP doesn't know this, but it does no harm to confirm to them that a fit note is required until the DWP can complete a Work Capabilty Assessment and that this might take months - this should encourage the GP to give your son a fit note for the longest that they can medically justify. 

Annie2347

Thank you for your advice, I’ll think of a way to tell the GP she needs to write a fit note without annoying her. 

Thank you for your help. 

Flugelhorn

Annie2347 said:

Thank you for your advice, I’ll think of a way to tell the GP she needs to write a fit note without annoying her. 

Thank you for your help. 

drop a note to the practice manager - they have a way of rugby tackling GPs in the coffee room and sitting on them until they do as they are told - alternate is that they hide the kettle until they behave 

Annie2347

lol, thank you,

I’ll write an email to the GP tonight. 

Is it a form they fill in, and if so, do you know the number of the form? Or could it be a letter?

is it best to have the fit note ready to upload when the universal credit application is submitted?

Is it a good idea to have another more in depth letter from the dr to send with the work capability questionnaire?

Thank you 

Flugelhorn

left GP practice 4 years ago .. but then fit note (Med3)   was a template that you filled in and then was printed off the computer

re the in depth letter, probably better to wait until they ask questions as they will want specific info 

Annie2347

Thank you for your help I really appreciate it. 

peteuk

Flugelhorn said:. 

drop a note to the practice manager - they have a way of rugby tackling GPs in the coffee room and sitting on them until they do as they are told - alternate is that they hide the kettle until they behave 

OT sorry but I do love the way you've discribed this.  Many times I collard doctors in corridors, between patients, in the car park!  

Newcad

Your GP is confused.

Fit notes are needed until after a claimant is assessed as being LCW/LCWRA.

For UC you normally have to take the fit notes to a jobcenter, there is no facility to upload fit notes for UC. (Unless the Work Coach enables uploading as a "Reasonable Adjustment" each time a new one is needed).

What your GP is thinking about is a supporting letter for the assessment, those are not required.
Sometimes, but not often, the DWP will contact the GP about an assessment.

You can get a list of your current conditions and current meds for free from the surgery, that is of more use to send with the assessment questionaire.

(TBH the letters that many GPs write, if they do agree to write one, are of very little help with the assessment anyway. The GP often does not know what information is needed for the Work Capability Assessment and so what they do write tends to be irrelevent to the assessment.
That's why the DWP tell you not to get one, because often the GP will charge and you are paying for something that is of no use/help to your assessment anyway.
I would further suggest that if your particular GP doesn't even know when a fit note is required for UC then they are extremely unlikely to know what information is required/useful in a supporting letter for an assessment).