DWP confirms that Covid-19-related suspension of requirement to provide medical evidence after seven days of sickness has now ended

Updated guidance for claimants and employees advises that requirement has resumed from 27 January 2022

The DWP has confirmed that the Covid-19-related suspension of the requirement to provide medical evidence after seven days of sickness has now ended.

In response to the government’s request to all departments to help release capacity in General Practice in order to support the Omicron Emergency Boost vaccination effort in December 2021, the DWP put in place two temporary changes -

• extending the self-certification period for SSP from seven to 28 days, by delivering regulations which came into force on 17 December 2021; and
• applying an easement so that fit notes are not required for universal credit and ESA purposes.

However, in a new update to guidance on fit notes for patients and employees, the DWP advises that -

'The temporary change to the rules on when you need to provide a fit note has ended. From 27 January 2022 you will need to provide a fit note after 7 days of sickness to claim benefits or claim statutory sick pay from your employer.'

In addition, an update to guidance for universal credit claimants advises that -

'From 27 January 2022 you will need to provide medical evidence about your health condition from the eighth day of your claim.'

The updated guidance for patients and employees and guidance for universal credit claimants is available from gov.uk