Fit Note Issue

Disabled_Carer · 15 January 2019 at 1:00PM

My partner is currently in the assessment phase for ESA and his fit note is due to expire, However the doctor is unwilling to issue a new one until the old one expires.

Will this cause issues ? Surely if we submit the new fit note on the day the old expires, the claim will get suspended ? Unless the benefits people are now super efficient and are able to process the fit note the same day. Which seems unlikely considering our experiences with them so far.

TELLIT01 · 15 January 2019 at 2:06PM

No the claim won't be suspended immediately. Fit notes are supposed to be processed on the day they are received, but for a long time now the end date of the certificate has been extended on the system is it runs out less than 10 days before the next payment is due. For example if payment is due on the 20th, and the cert expires on the 11th the date will be extended to the 20th. That is done precisely to avoid the risk you refer to.

It's possible that practice has ended but I would have thought it unlikely due to the problems it creates in the ESA processing offices. Your partner needs to ensure that the new cert runs from the day the old one expires and get it in a.s.a.p.

kingfisherblue · 15 January 2019 at 2:38PM

To get the fit note to ESA as soon as possible, you can book an appointment at the Job Centre for them to scan it across. They can do this whilst you are there, so they receive it the same day that you pick it up from the GP.

tomtom256 · 15 January 2019 at 8:31PM

or if you have a smartphone or a tablet you could just use https://www.gov.uk/send-fit-note

Fit Note Issue

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