Approaching crunch time

Altior

Nothing has moved forward since my most recent post. However, I read through my contract today, and found that due to my length of service, the company now needs to give me 3 months' notice (capped).

From their perspective, there's no reason why I couldn't work through my service period from home (rather than providing a settlement). I suppose there's an outside chance of gardening leave.

Altior

I've also been running through the hypothetical scenarios.

It seems like I may be able to apply for new style ESA, even with my assets. However, it seems like I will need a fit note, is that right? As I've been able to work from home fine through my health travails (aside from op recovery and the worst complications), I've never needed to ask for a fit note. So should I move on or be moved on, and apply for new style ESA, I would need to ask the doc for a fit note (even though I would not be working at that point)?

It's not a lot of money, but in that hypothetical scenario, any income would be very welcome! 

Spoonie_Turtle

A fit note is realistically the only medical evidence that DWP accepts of health conditions affecting your ability to work, for claiming ESA.  So it fulfils that purpose, but a fit note doesn't have to say you're not able to do any work, it can say you are fit to work subject to specific restrictions or accommodations being in place. 

A fit note's main purpose is actually for employers, that's why they have options for a doctor certifying the person is unable to work, or only able to work subject to xyz restrictions / abc accommodations.  It just so happens that DWP requires them to administrate benefit claims too.

Altior

Thanks Spoonie_Turtle!

Yes unfortunately I am reasonably familiar with fit notes, or at least I was a manager of people way back when the system changed from sick notes to fit notes. Many years ago since I dealt with them directly. For example we used to have a pregnant woman with fit notes saying they couldn't bend or lift. But the core activity of the job involved bending and lifting. So she used to just sit around watching other people doing her job, whilst getting paid. It was a challenging time to say the least!

It is counter intuitive to ask for a fit note if you're not working/don't have an employer. I see no reason why I wouldn't be able to obtain one as my GP is fully aware of all of my issues. 

The content I was reading about new style ESA didn't indicate that a fit note was mandatory for the application, but that was the inference, in effect, it is. Due to my autism I always plan and try to think through/anticipate any possible scenario, I don't like surprises! At least I know that I need to be ready to request a fit note should things progress in that direction.

Robbie64

You need to have a fit note to apply for ESA - or at least to be paid ESA -  as you have to show medical evidence that you have a health problem that limits your ability to work.

Altior

Thanks Robbie64.

Perhaps it is normal practice but the independent OH report was sent to my personal email address, as a password protected PDF. Refreshed in my mind exactly what it contained, and he said it was possible that the adjustment could need to be made permanent. 

I requested the fit note from the GP today. At the very least I will find out the process and if it will be provided or rejected. Hopefully it won't be rejected as they have all the evidence. It's only that I've never needed one before as work have accommodated the recommended adjustment. 

Altior

So I raised the fit note request and received a text that I would get a response within 48 hours (or they would contact me for more info), on Wednesday. Heard zero back by late Friday so called the surgery to chase it up.

Back and forth with the 'receptionist' in the middle calling back, relaying info from me to the GP and back again, not great  Initially they were rejecting the request, stating it's not something that they would issue a fit note for (wfh), but I pushed back on that, stating I had managerial experience in the past of my staff being issued fit notes that allowed them to work, with provisos from the GP attached.

Eventually the receptionist (the front line person handling the request, don't actually know what their position was!), has arranged for a telephone appt with my GP in July, so it can be discussed directly.

Does anyone have any advice on exactly what I should be asking the GP for? The gist of their initial reticence appeared to be that they said an OH therapist recommendation overrides a GP. But the issue of course is that the OH recommendation has effectively timed out (6 months from Nov 24, to be reviewed in 6 months). The OH requested 6 month review isn't going to happen, as the workplace won't be providing another OH session. 
 

HillStreetBlues

Altior said:

So I raised the fit note request and received a text that I would get a response within 48 hours (or they would contact me for more info), on Wednesday. Heard zero back by late Friday so called the surgery to chase it up.

Back and forth with the 'receptionist' in the middle calling back, relaying info from me to the GP and back again, not great  Initially they were rejecting the request, stating it's not something that they would issue a fit note for (wfh), but I pushed back on that, stating I had managerial experience in the past of my staff being issued fit notes that allowed them to work, with provisos from the GP attached.

Eventually the receptionist (the front line person handling the request, don't actually know what their position was!), has arranged for a telephone appt with my GP in July, so it can be discussed directly.

Does anyone have any advice on exactly what I should be asking the GP for? The gist of their initial reticence appeared to be that they said an OH therapist recommendation overrides a GP. But the issue of course is that the OH recommendation has effectively timed out (6 months from Nov 24, to be reviewed in 6 months). The OH requested 6 month review isn't going to happen, as the workplace won't be providing another OH session. 
 

When "fit" notes replaced "sick" note it was done so doctors could allow for some kind of work. The issue is that doctors haven't got the time or the inclination to do that. I think it's about 95% are signed off from all work. I expect some surgeries it's a binary choice of not issuing one or being fully signed off hence the confusion.

If a fit note states you can only work from home the OT can't change that, as you have been signed off sick from working in the office  so can't override the fit note.

Altior

Thanks. 

Yes there was no 'working' option on the online form, just dates you wanted to be signed off for.

There were two fields where you could describe the situation and provide supporting info, I used all of the 500 character limit in both boxes!

Perhaps I provided too much detail. I will need to digest all of the legislation around fit notes in preparation. One does sense it would have been easier to get signed off than to have conditions attached to being able to continue working. 

I do appreciate that GP time is very finite, and will try to provide a potted history on the call. Work will now only support a continuation of permanently working from home if that is supported by a fit note. If I don't get that, it will almost definitely lead to my employment ceasing. 

Altior

Update on this, long story but I have quit.

Meaning the importance of my potential new style ESA application has heightened somewhat! As it stands I have zero income from next month!

I realise people may not have the answers, however I still have the telephone appointment with the GP scheduled for next week. I read that the fit note start date should coincide with the start date for the new style ESA claim. I guess the questions are:

• Should I still go ahead with the telephone appointment, or wait until I've had my last day working.
• Do I ask for a wfh type limited capacity fit note, or just ask to be fully signed off (I'd love to get another job wfh eventually)
• Should I tell the GP that I have now left, and am intending to apply for new style ESA. 
• Any other valid points / comments / relevant advice.

NB I realise the original general consensus was to push on, but I was finding that increasingly intolerable. It actually feels like a huge weight off my mind in the short term, but obviously I will need to identify another source of income pretty quickly, so my problems are far from over!

Thanks