To call the Dr and ask for another fit note?

[TooBlessedtobethisStressed]

Heya everyone,
I was made redundant about 8 months ago and I've been on universal credit ever since, looking for jobs. I've had a handful of interviews but because of my kids and other commitments (I'm a carer for my mum but I can only do about 25 hours a week so I'm not classed as a carer) I haven't been able to find a suitable job, although I have been volunteering at a couple of different places to keep my mind busy and to socialise.

I've recently been going through a lot of personal trauma (I won't get into that now) and it'd brought on my depression, I have suffered with this in the past but it seemed to be "dormant" for the last few years. Ive also got PTSD from whats happened recently. Lately I'm so overwhelmed by everything, I don't hardly shower, I barely eat, I cry all the time. As long as my kids are good then I don't care about myself.

I spoke to the Dr about a month ago and he wrote me a fit note to give to DWP. It's run out and now they're telling me I have to continue to look for work but I just don't feel ready. I've never felt so low as I do right now and I feel like having to get up and go to interviews etc is all too much for me to handle.

My question is, is it unreasonable for me to call the Dr again and ask for another fit note? Or is that not allowed?

I've never been in this situation before and I'm scared that my benefits will stop or that DWP might think I'm just trying to get out of having to find a job, I just don't know what I should do.

Thanks if you made it this far.

It is absolutely fine to call and request a fit note and to have it back dated to the day yours ran out (if it isn’t too long).
Depression often isn’t something that just vanishes at the end of one fit note so Drs are used to issuing further notes, although your GP should be periodically reviewing you to see that you are okay too.

A GP will consider what is going to change during the period of any fit note they will give - what steps are you taking to help yourself. E.g. have you self referred for any therapy? Can the doctor refer you to any services for your mental health? or exercise-on-prescription type schemes? Are you on any medication - will the dose change, or could the medication be changed if its not working?

I started antidepressants about 6 months ago and when I called the GP a month ago he upped my dose, and it has stopped my panic attacks and lessened my insomnia but my mood doesn't seem to have changed, granted I do have an overwhelming amount of external factors lately, but I don't want to just keep upping my dose. I'm on a waiting list for therapy but it's going to be at least 6 months.

I'm just terrified that I'll call up and a gp who hardly knows me, who will spend 10 minutes on the phone with me and not even see me in person, will decide I'm ready to go back to work. I really can't take that right now.

Many Doctors will extend a fit note if you just message the surgery. They know that DWP do their own capability assessments anyway so its not a GP's job to police the benefits system. And given you are currently waiting for the treatment that would help you get back to work I cant see a GP doing anything other than extending your note