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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Universal Credit and Fit note

44 replies

UndertheCedartree · 21/02/2022 20:03

Can anyone explain this to me. I am on UC due to illness. I put a claim in (well actually some kind of support worker did) when I was in hospital. I'm guessing they maybe provided a fit note. I don't know as I was too unwell.

Some years have passed and I was just recently asked for a fit note. I'm a bit confused as I've never got one before. Why would they ask now? Do I need to speak to a GP to get one?

OP posts:
Dishwashersaurous · 21/02/2022 20:31

Do you Still have a support worker? Can you ask them to contact UC on your behalf

Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 21/02/2022 20:35

@Dishwashersaurous

Without knowing all the details of your specific case we are not going to be able to advise.
Well, you already have and it has been very helpful - thank you! To try to even get that amount of help from UC would have probably taken at least a year of phone calls and journal messages! I still have queries that have never been answered 4 years later! The system is awful.
OP posts:
Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 21/02/2022 20:36

@Dishwashersaurous

Do you Still have a support worker? Can you ask them to contact UC on your behalf
Well, apparently so but due to Covid not really. But that's a good idea, I will see if I can get some help.
OP posts:
Dishwashersaurous · 21/02/2022 20:39

The other option is citizens advice bureau.

Or could you make an appointment to go into a jobcentre to talk to someone in person.

Wish that I could be more helpful.

I suspect that it may be that you are due a reassessment but I can't be certain

Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 21/02/2022 20:41

@Dishwashersaurous

It's really odd that no one has responded at all.

That's clearly not how the system is supposed to work

Yes, I know. It winds me up when you phone up and while on hold it keeps telling you to use your journal! When I ring up noone can answer my query and says they will pass it to my case manager. Maybe that's why they don't answer on the journal because they don't know the answer. At one time I just copied and pasted the same query every week for 6 months. Eventually someone said they would pass it to my case manager!
OP posts:
Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 21/02/2022 20:42

@Dishwashersaurous

The other option is citizens advice bureau.

Or could you make an appointment to go into a jobcentre to talk to someone in person.

Wish that I could be more helpful.

I suspect that it may be that you are due a reassessment but I can't be certain

Thanks for the ideas. Honestly, you have been really helpful. At least I have an idea now of what might be happening.
OP posts:
Dishwashersaurous · 21/02/2022 20:45

Good luck with it all

JamieNorthlife · 21/02/2022 21:09

OP, you may be entitled to more benefits including PIP in addition to UC.

The UC replaces ESA.

JamieNorthlife · 21/02/2022 21:10

CAB info www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/

Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 21/02/2022 21:29

@JamieNorthlife - thank you. I already get PIP.

OP posts:
NotRightNowPlease · 21/02/2022 21:49

It sounds to me like you had a paper based assessment and it’s now time to reassess. They will only want a fit note as it’s part of the process.

Regarding your journal, when you send a message be sure to copy and paste it several times to payments, work coach and service issues. If you still have issues then make a complaint here makeacomplaint.dwp.gov.uk/ they usually get in touch within a day or 2 after that.

Hope you manage to sort it.

Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 21/02/2022 23:07

@NotRightNowPlease

It sounds to me like you had a paper based assessment and it’s now time to reassess. They will only want a fit note as it’s part of the process.

Regarding your journal, when you send a message be sure to copy and paste it several times to payments, work coach and service issues. If you still have issues then make a complaint here makeacomplaint.dwp.gov.uk/ they usually get in touch within a day or 2 after that.

Hope you manage to sort it.

Ok, thank you for the advice. How long would I need to get the fit note for do you think?

I did once send a message 10 times in a row and someone replied but the next time I tried it didn't work! Thank you for the complaint information.

OP posts:
NotRightNowPlease · 22/02/2022 07:38

@UndertheCedartree I’d get the fit note for as long as you can.

If you send to payments it’s supposed to go to your case manager (I think they triage them now though).

NotRightNowPlease · 22/02/2022 07:40

Also, this charity is amazing www.uceplus.co.uk/ contact them on the forums and they’ll walk through it all with you.

Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 22/02/2022 08:14

@NotRightNowPlease thank you

OP posts:
Justkeepmoving020122 · 22/02/2022 08:49

Sound like your LCWRA is up for reassessment. Asking for a fit note is routine. You will be fine as long as your gp states your condition is the same or has worsened. If you have improved you may move to LCW or intensive where you will be expected to look for work.

LCWRA claimants do not have a work coach. They have caseworkers who deal with journal messages but they are are so busy they often don't have time to answer. There has been high staff turnover in the last year so you may have had many caseworkers who just never got round to answering your messages. The best thing to do is phone the service centre if you have any queries.

Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 22/02/2022 10:51

@Justkeepmoving020122

Sound like your LCWRA is up for reassessment. Asking for a fit note is routine. You will be fine as long as your gp states your condition is the same or has worsened. If you have improved you may move to LCW or intensive where you will be expected to look for work.

LCWRA claimants do not have a work coach. They have caseworkers who deal with journal messages but they are are so busy they often don't have time to answer. There has been high staff turnover in the last year so you may have had many caseworkers who just never got round to answering your messages. The best thing to do is phone the service centre if you have any queries.

Thank you. I will try phoning. Hopefully it's quite straightforward and they can answer. The majority of time they can't answer and say they will pass it to the elusive case worker!

Don't get me wrong I'm not blaming the people atall. There's just something wrong with the system and not enough training.

OP posts:
CharlotteRose90 · 22/02/2022 11:03

If you’re in the unable to work category you need proof either from a consultant you are under or GP whoever. As long as they can say you are not fit to work it counts. I was under the same category a few years ago and had reviews every 2 years. That meant filling in a questionnaire stating if my conditions were still the same and getting letters from the doctor I’m under in the hospital to stay I couldn’t work. I’m thinking because of covid you got missed and now they are doing the extra checks to make sure you still qualify.

Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 22/02/2022 12:17

@CharlotteRose90

If you’re in the unable to work category you need proof either from a consultant you are under or GP whoever. As long as they can say you are not fit to work it counts. I was under the same category a few years ago and had reviews every 2 years. That meant filling in a questionnaire stating if my conditions were still the same and getting letters from the doctor I’m under in the hospital to stay I couldn’t work. I’m thinking because of covid you got missed and now they are doing the extra checks to make sure you still qualify.
That makes sense, thank you.
OP posts:
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