Fit Note and LCW / LCWRA

[Lucybeary]

Does anyone know if your fit note says you can do limited work, which I expect will be what my doctor will agree.

Does that automatically exclude you from being considered for LCWRA?

I'm doing limited work as self employed but struggling with it. I am doing my best to maintain that and I fear that having to do work related activity is just going to be additional stress and drain on my energy.

But I'm capable of some work because I do it and I wish to continue. I don't know how fit notes work these days as I've been self employed for 7 years but imagine if the doctor says I'm capable of some work then I'll automatically be excluded from consideration for the LCWRA group?

Does anyone know if this is the case?

The other concern is if the doctor tells me he thinks I'm not fit for work at all. Can I then work part time as I have been doing? I want to do the work and hoping there will be improvement down the line.

Just migrating from tax credits and stressed already

Technically it doesn't exclude you from LCWRA but in my experience (I'm on LCWRA and my area was the first to get it in 2016) you're highly unlikely to get it as they'll see you as capable of working and therefore belonging in the in between LCW group. It muddies the waters as some types of work are fine, others not so much, obviously it depends how your condition affects you. However, once you've been awarded it, you can then contact them and ask to do 'Permitted Work' which they'll assess and make a decision. In these cases, they communicate with your employer/you if self employed and oversee how much you're working etc.

Having said all this, things could have changed since I was last in a position to work (2016)

Thanks HauntedbyMagpies

I really do not know how to approach the doctor about any of this it all feels odd going to get a fit note or what to say to the doctor. They haven't seen me properly for years.

I had been thinking of asking for one before I got my migration letter as I've been really struggling but the thought of letting clients down stopped me.

Having looked at the assessment criteria yes I'm capable of work but there are a number of categories that I struggle with, and it will be how often I am able to carry out tasks, as fatigue sets in quickly.

Hence why I was wondering if I appear to meet the criteria for lcwra group but a doctor is likely to put that I'm capable of some work, its all a bit confusing.

I don't have much energy and what I do have wants to work, not engage in activities that are not work itself (the work related activities)

The fit note itself won't make any difference at all to whether you get lcw or lcwra. All the fit note does in the process is enable your work coach to refer you for a health assessment.

Whether you get lcwra will depend on you meeting one of the lcwra descriptors https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/universal-credit-uc/uc-faq/limited-capability-for-work-related-activity

There is a way to get lcwra even if none of the descriptors for it apply to you. That is if you would be at substantial risk of harm if you were expected to do work related activity. It's unlikely you'd be found to meet this criteria if you're already working

(Nb the pp's comment about about permitted work is out of date. On UC once you've been found to have lcw/Ra you can work as many hours as you like)

Thanks Nonametonight

that helps clarify it. I'm seriously depressed now (I don't mean at risk depressed), I feel like I've had a weight put on me and I'm at the bottom of the ocean. Change does this and then my repeated attempts to understand that change with a fine tooth comb. I've considered I may also have well masked autism, never been diagnosed, probably don't want to go through all that stress either.

Just having the doctor's appointment this week with the other work commitments is making me close to tears all the time. (and yet when I'm managing things well and there's not changes like this I'm usually the cheerful one helping others)

I'm also wondering if the doctor tells me I'm not fit for work at all, that's not what I want. While it might at least convince the job centre to put me in lcwra, it would stop me being able to work wouldn't it? Are you legally allowed to carry on working even if a doctor writes a fit note saying you are not fit for work? :-(

apparently I can request a fit note online which would allay some of my anxiety about the whole process and the energy of getting to the surgery. I have a full day of work ahead tomorrow and the next and so online would be better.

but as my health problems have been long term I'm wondering if I ask the doctor to confirm that if possible and if so, he would likely give for a few months. Does that help me with the claim? Someone did say get a few short term fit notes, so a little confused. I'm likely to have problems for at least 6 months looking at how things have been but there's still hope for a lot of improvement too.

sorry for repeated posts this is anticipatory anxiety. I have nothing to be anxious about. I have real problems, they are likely to be recognised. If they are not I will be ok on what I earn already, I really have nothing to be anxious about whatever decisions are made, it's just the change I'm not coping with. Change and the fact that I can't finish all the tasks straight away.

My DS has LCW but not LCWRA. His advisors have always worked with him and he doesn't have to do anything that is too much.

Thanks Dr Coconut that is good to know

Had my assessment last week on phone for only 15 minutes as the assessor had said she was happy on her side with the letter she received from my GP didn't ask a lot 15 minutes and it was over i thought I had won LCWRA but was put on LWC so unfair why would I be refused lcwra if the assessor doing my assessment was so convincing a 15 minute assessment i thought was short but my GP had giving enough evidence I put in for a mandatory reconsideration its just unfair

Had my assessment last week on phone for only 15 minutes as the assessor had said she was happy on her side with the letter she received from my GP didn't ask a lot 15 minutes and it was over i thought I had won LCWRA but was put on LWC so unfair why would I be refused lcwra if the assessor doing my assessment was so convincing a 15 minute assessment i thought was short but my GP had giving enough evidence I put in for a mandatory reconsideration its just unfair anybody had this happen before

Had my assessment last week on phone for only 15 minutes as the assessor had said she was happy on her side with the letter she received from my GP didn't ask a lot 15 minutes and it was over i thought I had won LCWRA but was put on LWC so unfair why would I be refused lcwra if the assessor doing my assessment was so convincing a 15 minute assessment i thought was short but my GP had giving enough evidence I put in for a mandatory reconsideration its just unfair anybody had this happen before

The fit note won’t make any difference to your work capability assessment.

Sorry just realised this is a zombie thread.

Yes but it was highlighted by the assessor that it was enough evidence and she also explained that she was happy on her end and didn't need to ask me much questions 15 minutes for assessment