Migrating from ESA to UC. Fit note

AutismSucks

This is regarding migrating from ESA to UC. Fit note

My partner is registered disabled and her migration to UC went fine. No problem. Also, I have multiple health issues and claim P.I.P.

However, we were made to make joint claim, meaning I had to be part of my partner's UC even though I wanted nothing from them.

Our problems start here................

My health issues.

1. 10 years ago I had surgery on my back for sciatica. It was successful, I could walk again. Howver, the pain in my lower back remained. I have been on Gabapentin and was on tramadol since. I do core excersises which have helped reduce the pain. I still have pain.

2. 18 months ago I was diagnosed with a inguinal hernia, it's gotten quite big. I struggle to do core excersise now as the hernia gets massive during core excersise and really hurts. Great, my back pain has returned with a vengeance now that my core is weak.

3. 8 years ago I was diagnosed with Peripheral Arterial Disease P.A.D. , I had bypass surgery on my leg, from the groin to my knee. That is now failing and I cant walk for more than a couple of minutes before my lower leg gives in. My back then hurts bad as I am walking weird, the stress of the p.a.d.

4. I am autistic. Some might say I'm stupid for saying this but for me, autism has brought me more trouble than any of my physical woes.



The Jobcentre says that for them to take my health issues into account they will need a fit note from my GP. With that they can then put me forward for a Work Capability Assessment.

OK, I phone the GP and they refuse to give me one as their policy isn't to give fit note for health issues that are long term..... What the ...?

I've told the Jobcentre this. They say this is not correct.

So I have phoned the doctor again and they have said no.

Not sure what I am meant to do here.

I'm autistic and am really struggling to make heads or tails of this. My partner has had to help me with writting this btw

Any thought would be very helpful

Thanks

marcia_

 Change your GP. That must be their own policy because i have several life ling conditions and get sick notes from my GP 

 Perhaps make an appointment without mentioning the sick note snd asking the Dr direct

poppy12345

If you live together then claiming UC as a couple is correct. Same would have applied for your partners ESA if any part of it was Income Related. 

Does your partner claim either daily living PIP or DLA mid/high rate care? If they do and you care for them for at least 35 hours per week you can claim carers element of UC. As a carer you will have no work commitments. Then this way you don't have to provide fit notes.

If your partner was in the Support Group for ESA then they will automatically be entitled to the LCWRA element of UC form the start of your claim. Even if you do go through the work capability assessment and are found to have LCWRA you will not receive any extra money each month because only 1 LCWRA element can be paid per claim. 

AutismSucks

Thanks marcia, I have considered this. May well be done in a day or two.

Thanks poppy, my partner is bipolar 1. I will read up best I can and see about the carer thing. Her care coordinator did give me some paperwork for that. The top of the letter is NHS and I.D.T. integrated delivery team..the IDT are who delivers my partner's mental health care & support. If I remember rightly it was not an official thing done through the benefits agency etc. I will go through other paperwork to see what I can find. I may be quite sometime.

Spoonie_Turtle

Nothing official is needed for you to be her carer, only that she claims a qualifying benefit (daily living PIP or middle or high rate care DLA) and you provide 35hrs care or more per week. 

This can be in any form - prompting, reassuring, physically doing things around the house that she's not well enough to, supervising, basically anything that you wouldn't need to do if she weren't disabled.

AutismSucks

Thanks Spoonie,  my partner has looked at me cross eyed when I ask her about DLA. As stated she has migrated from ESA (income related with the support group) to UC / New style ESA. She is bipolar 1.  I dont recall anything about DLA. hmm

For the moment, I have found paperwork from the NHS saying regarding me being my partner's carer. So legit as far as they are concerned.

Spoonie_Turtle

Checking her bank account could be an easy way of finding out - if she gets PIP or DLA the payments will have DWP PIP or DWP DLA in the reference (just like her ESA payments and soon UC payments have the relevant benefit abbreviation in the reference).

AutismSucks

It says Dwp Eesa. Nothing else.

AutismSucks

She did have P.I.P. sometime ago but it was reviewed (cant remeber the name of the process) and she was denied. She was so upset by the whole thing that she wouldnt appeal. Sigh. She was on the verge of another episode at the time and that nearly sent her over the edge, meaning being sectioned again.

8dayweek

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fit-note

I’d email the GP surgery and refer them to this link. In the section 10 within Guidance for Healthcare Professionals it details why someone not in employment may require a fit note.