Long term sickness and UC

[WorkMess2025]

I'm a little confused and hoping someone can clarify for me.

I have, in the past year, suffered with a new long term health condition that affects my daily life. I am in receipt of enhanced PIP for both elements and Universal Credit (which I have been on since having my daughter 4 years ago).

I am employed at 30 hours per week, and have managed this to a degree for the past year. Unfortunately things became impossible recently and I have been signed off for at least a couple of months (just going into the second month now). This is likely to last longer while talks of redeployment happen/ill health capability meetings etc. I'm currently looking for other roles that it may be easier to undertake, but at the moment my mobility is severely impacted.

I do get full sick pay, so my wages have not changed. I just cannot gather whether I am meant to be submitting sick notes to UC or not!

If anyone could clarify I'd really appreciate it.

Do you already get the Limited capability for work or the Limited capability for work and work related activity element on your UC claim ?
If not then you can start off the process for this by handing in sick notes and waiting to be sent the UC50 work capabilty assessment form.

I don't, as I have always been in work and obviously while I'm off sick, I have sick pay.

Ok well as you receive PIP you could still have been assessed for that element which is worth over an extra £420 a month if awarded the highest rate ( LCWRA). I would hand in sick notes and leave a journal message explaining that you receive PIP and can you be assessed.

@MickGeorge22- Ah okay, thank you. I assumed that element would only come into play if I was to have to leave the role altogether. I'm still hoping for some sort of resolution at my current role. I'll send them in. Thank you for your help!

No , the element gives people extra money on their claim if they have been assessed as having limited capability for work, so gives them some extra money if for example they are only able to work part time hours or limited in what type of work they can do because of their health condition or disability. It's not just for people who cannot work at all.

@MickGeorge22- Oh that's really helpful, thank you. It's certainly having an impact on the amount and type of work I can do, and having built a very specific career in which I now can't work, would be really helpful. Total misunderstanding on my part. Appreciate your response!

I know this isn't what you asked, but can I just check - you already receive the enhanced rates on PIP, but have you told them about the new condition? Because the DWP can be damned pedantic, and even if it makes no difference to your eligibility at all, you have to inform them of any changes to your condition - positive or negative.

@PhilippaGeorgiou- Yes, when I started the PIP application I put a change of circumstance in for UC and stated I had this condition. I also left a message in my journal to say that I was currently not affected at work, but was now in receipt of the enhanced PIP. They said that basically it had no impact so whatever. But the health change has been noted. :)

Being awarded PIP does have an impact in that you can request a work capability assessment on UC regardless of how many hours worked. If you did not have PIP in place then your earnings would need to be less than 16x nmw per week before you can request to be assessed for work capability but having PIP means that the amount of hours don't matter. They could have made you aware of this but of course they don't because it would cost them considerably more money if you are awarded LCWRA !

@MickGeorge22- Yes, evidently they decided that letting me know wasn't a good idea. I've struggled for so long at work but now things all seem to be unattainable and the extra reassurance would be really helpful!