Sick note rule change for millions on Universal Credit and benefits

MILLIONS of Universal Credit claimants will be affected by a change to sick note rules coming into force tomorrow.

The time you could be off without getting a sick note was extended during last month’s Covid spike, but that new rule will be scrapped this week.

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From December 10 2021, anyone who was unwell did not have to show a sick note until 28 days after they fell ill in order to get their pay or benefits

The rule applied to employees and people who get benefits such as Universal Credit, and was brought in due to the surge in Omicron cases across the UK.

But the extension has been reversed as case numbers have started to fall.

From tomorrow, you’ll have to show get a doctor’s note after seven days of being ill to get sick pay or your benefits.

The same goes for those who become sick and are on benefits like Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

The decision to extend the usual sick note time from seven to 28 days was made to free up GPs to focus on the Covid vaccination booster campaign.

A DWP spokesperson told The Sun in December: “To free up capacity for our GPs to support the ramping up of the Covid booster jab rollout, we’ve introduced Statutory Sick Pay changes today.

“For any sickness absences which began on or after December 10, 2021, up to and including January 26, 2022, GPs will not need to provide employees with medical evidence of sickness, such as a fit note, for the first 28 days of absence.”

Under normal sick note rules you self-certify for the first seven days of illness.

Once you have been ill for more than seven consecutive days (including weekend days, bank holidays or days you wouldn’t usually work anyway) most employers ask you to provide a sick note.

Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is worth £96.35 a week for those who qualify.

It’s paid by employers for up to 28 weeks after the first three days of illness and your earning at least £120 a week.

But of you are self-isolating for Covid you can get SSP for the first three days.

SSP is the minimum you get under the law and your employer might pay more, or form the first day of being ill.

Meanwhile if you’re claiming Universal Credit and become unwell and that affects your search for work, you have to show a note to the DWP after seven days.

Employment and Support Allowance benefits (ESA), which you can claim if an illness or disability is affecting your capacity to work, is also affected by the reversal of the extension.