Incapacity Benefit linking rule & "fitnote"

If anyone can help me here that would be great.

A few weeks back I phoned the benefits service to link back to my previous benefits (Income support by way of Incapacity Benefit and Housing Benefit). They couldn't go through with it on the phone for several fairly idiotic reasons, so they sent me forms. I filled in the forms and sent them back. Weeks passed. I phoned them and asked what was going on. They said I needed to fill in another form - I should have filled in an Incapacity Benefit form not an Income Support form. Fine. When I get the form a little note is included that I need a medical certificate too. Well thanks for letting me know so promptly just before a bank holiday...

So I get an emergency appointment and my doctor provides a certificate only it's one of those fitnotes and she says I may be able to work with amended duties. I already quit my job. I really doubt my doctor thinks I should go back to that job, it's just we agreed previously that part time work might be better for me. Or so I thought.

Anyway, sorry for the ramble. The question is, will I qualify? Or will there be further to-do while I quickly run out of money, food and, if I have to talk to any of these incompetents any more, the will to live?

Hi,

As I understand it, where the GP indicates adjustments that could be made but an employer is unwilling or unable to make them, then the fit note will be treated as if it said that you are unable to work.

I imagine, but I can't say with absolute certainty, that this would be the same if you no longer have an employer.

Good luck,

Steve

Hi, My wife who works part time, Injured her foot, The GP just signed her unfit for work for 2 weeks. He said he cant make employers alter peoples job descriptions or employment terms. He said the fit note was a complete waste of time and money.

The system in general (that is, NHS plus the rest) has now created so much bureaucracy that I heard today my own good and hard-working GP actually has to get a stand-in every so often -- so he can wade through a mound of unavoidable paperwork.