UC and the Phantom WCA

AnonyMoose

Thought I’d make the title sound exciting.

Evening all, 

I’ve recently ran in to a bit of a roadblock when submitting my fit notes. I’ve been backwards and forward to work, worked for a few weeks in between each note, since November last year. I’ve only just had this come to a head and lost my job on the 31st July, my company couldn’t have been better about the situation, so I can’t fault them. I’ve never expected a WCA, never had a UC50, etc.

All this was for my diagnosed “Generalised Anxiety Disorder”

In this time I’ve had notes lapse, and they’ve sent me the usual journal entry saying I’ve not submitted a new one so I’m now capable for work, which is fine, I was capable until it kicked up again and I submitted a new note.

Before I was let go, I hadn’t had a sick note for about two months. My final note was for the 16th of July until the 17th of August. I submitted it as normal, reported the health change, and got this:

“ Hi

I cannot accept your fit notes because you took part in a work capability assessment (WCA) and you did not meet the threshold for limited capability for work or limited capability for work and work-related activities.

 I cannot accept any fit notes unless either 

you have a new condition, or your existing health condition has worsened compared to the one we used to make the WCA decision. You must have medical evidence to support this. 

If you and your doctor feel you do have a new or significantly worsening health condition, please tell us about this by going to the ‘Report a change of circumstances’ section of your account and then go to ‘Health’ .

You will need to tell us about your fit note again. You can do this on the same screen.

We will then be able to include this information when deciding if you are capable of work.

Regards”

Ive never attended a WCA, I’ve never had a UC50 sent, or anything - I rang the helpline, and apparently this is only because I didn’t continue my sick notes the last time.

I’ve done as the nice lady asked, and submitted a change of health condition to say it’s got worse again, and resubmitted the fit notes. That was on the 3rd of August.

I’ve yet to hear back from them. I’ve since got another note from the 17th Aug to the 18th Sep, which I’ve added, so now I’ve got two “Provide a Fit Note” items in my journal to do list that have yet to be accepted.

Is there anything else I need to do? Will they kick up a fuss and reject these notes too? I’ve added a note in my journal to say I’ve never had a WCA and what the helpline operator said, but I’ve had nothing back.

Im not sure where to go from here!

huckster

What has happened is that because of previous fit notes being provided, then expiring with many gaps in between, is that someone from the work capability Decision Makers team, has applied a capable for decision on the claim, adding notes about this.  Then someone from Job Centre or Case Manager from Servive Centre has misunderstood the situation.

If you phone UC on 0800 328 5644 or visit your local Job Centre to talk about this, I am sure this will quickly be resolved, with a WCA being arranged.