If you’re searching when do you stop sending sick notes Universal Credit, you’re probably worried about one of these:
- You’ll stop too early, and Universal Credit will treat you as fit for work, or
- You’ll keep sending fit notes forever, even after you’ve had a decision.
You usually stop sending sick notes (fit notes) for Universal Credit when the DWP has sent you your Work Capability Assessment (WCA) decision for the condition you reported.
Until you’ve been sent that decision, you should keep providing a new fit note whenever the previous one expires. After the decision, fit notes are normally not needed for that same condition unless you report a new condition or your condition significantly worsens.
To make sure you’re fully covered, this guide explains exactly what stop sending means in real life, what happens if there’s a gap, what to do if your GP delays renewals, and how LCW/LCWRA outcomes change what Universal Credit expects from you.
When do you stop sending sick notes Universal Credit?
In everyday terms, you stop once both of these are true:
- A WCA decision has been sent to you (LCWRA, LCW, or fit for work), and
- You’re talking about the same condition the WCA decision covered.
Before that decision arrives, the safest approach is to treat fit notes as continuous evidence that keeps your health situation properly recorded and prevents your claimant commitment from snapping back to full work-search expectations.
What Universal Credit means by sick notes
Universal Credit doesn’t usually say a sick note; it calls it a fit note. This is a medical note from your GP or another clinician that confirms your health condition is affecting your ability to work for a set period. It can be on paper or sent digitally.
For Universal Credit, the key thing is the dates: when the fit note starts and when it ends. Those dates tell UC how long you should be treated as unwell, so make sure you record them correctly on your account and keep the note for your records.
The 7-day rule: This is where many people accidentally go wrong
If you’re unwell for a short period, Universal Credit can accept you simply by reporting that you’re ill at first. But if your illness affects you beyond a week, you generally need medical evidence.
A simple way to think about it:
- Days 1–7: you tell Universal Credit you’re unwell (self-certification).
- From day 8 onwards: you usually need a fit note (unless an exception applies).
That’s why people often get caught out: they report being sick once, then assume they’re done, when Universal Credit is actually expecting fit note coverage after the first week if you’re still affected.
Your Universal Credit fit note timeline
Most confusion disappears once you can see the whole health journey as a timeline. Think of this table as your quick reference.
| Stage | What you do | What UC/DWP is doing | What can go wrong if you stop early |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days 1–7 | Report you’re unwell in your UC account/journal | Records the change and may reduce expectations in the short term | If you don’t record it properly, you may still be treated as fully able to work |
| Day 8 onward | Provide fit note dates/details | Keeps your “health status” active | Without fit note coverage, UC may expect work-search activities |
| After about 28 days affected | Continue fit notes without gaps | May trigger/continue WCA steps | Stopping can delay or disrupt the WCA pathway |
| Waiting for WCA | Renew fit notes as they expire | Sends forms, schedules an assessment, and makes a decision | Gaps can lead to work-search expectations or admin problems |
| Decision sent | Usually, stop fit notes for that same condition | Updates LCW/LCWRA/fit for work and commitments | Sometimes UC systems still prompt for fit notes until manually corrected |
How you send a sick note on Universal Credit
In practice, sending often means recording the fit note details (the dates and sometimes issuer info) in your Universal Credit account or journal in the way your account prompts you to.
A key point that helps: Universal Credit is often more focused on the coverage dates than the image of the paper itself. Still, keep a photo/scan for your own records in case you’re asked to show it later.
When do you stop sending sick notes universal credit while waiting for a Work Capability Assessment?
If you are still waiting for a WCA decision, treat this as your rule:
Keep fit notes continuous until your WCA decision has been sent to you.
People often ask, But I’ve already had the assessment appointment, can I stop now? It’s safer not to stop until the decision is actually issued. Delays happen, paperwork can be processed out of order, and systems can lag.
The risk is that if there’s a gap, Universal Credit may start expecting work-search or work-related activities again.
What continuous fit notes mean
Continuous doesn’t mean never changing. It simply means you try to avoid date gaps.
Example:
- Fit note 1 ends on 10 February.
- Fit note 2 should ideally start on 11 February (or earlier if the issuer writes it that way).
If you get a gap because you couldn’t get an appointment in time, you’re not doomed, but you should explain it quickly in your journal and show that you’re actively trying to get the renewal.
What to do if your fit note is about to expire and you can’t get a GP appointment
If you suspect a delay, act before the end date:
- Request the renewal early (many GP surgeries can renew without a full appointment if the situation is ongoing).
- Put a message in your Universal Credit journal so there’s a clear record.
Here’s a journal message you can copy and adapt. Keep it clear and factual:
UC journal message (fit note renewal delay)
My fit note ends on [date]. I’m still not well enough to work or look for work because of [brief condition/symptoms]. I’ve asked for a renewal, and the earliest date I can get it issued is [date]. I’ll update the fit note details on my Universal Credit account as soon as it’s issued. This delay is outside my control.
That message does three important things: it timestamps the issue, it links it to your capability for work, and it shows you’re taking reasonable steps.
When do you stop sending sick notes universal credit after you get a decision (LCW/LCWRA/fit for work)?
Once a WCA decision has been made and issued for the condition you reported, fit notes are usually no longer needed for that same condition. The decision is meant to replace the temporary fit note stage with a formal work capability status.
Here’s what changes by outcome:
| WCA outcome | Do you usually keep sending fit notes for the same condition? | What happens to your work requirements? |
|---|---|---|
| LCWRA | Normally, no (for the same condition) | No work-related requirements in your claimant commitment |
| LCW | Normally, no (for the same condition) | You may have work-related activity, but typically not full work-search requirements |
| Fit for work | Normally, no for that assessed condition, unless you report a new/worsened issue | You’re generally expected to meet standard commitments |
What if Universal Credit still asks for fit notes after your decision?
This happens more than you’d expect, usually for admin reasons (system prompts, old to-dos, or the decision not applied correctly).
A short, practical journal message usually works best:
UC journal message (still being asked for fit notes after decision)
I’ve received my Work Capability Assessment decision dated [date]. Please can you confirm my Universal Credit claim has been updated, and whether you still need any further fit notes for the same condition covered by that decision.
Keep it neutral; you’re not disputing anything here, just asking them to match your account to the decision.
When do you stop sending sick notes Universal Credit if you’re awarded LCWRA?
If you’re awarded LCWRA, the usual expectation is that ongoing fit notes for the same condition are not required once the decision is issued. Your claimant commitment should reflect that you’re not expected to do work-related activity.
You still need to report changes of circumstances (for example, if you start work, move home, change household, or your health situation changes in a way that affects your claim), but you’re not meant to be stuck endlessly renewing fit notes for the same assessed condition.
What happens if your fit note expires on Universal Credit?
A fit note expiring doesn’t automatically stop your Universal Credit payment. But it can change what Universal Credit expects from you right now, especially if the system sees you as having no current medical evidence.
It’s also worth separating process issues (like fit notes, WCA steps, and claimant commitments) from payment headlines that sometimes cause panic online.
If you’ve come across discussions about extra support or one-off amounts, you might have seen coverage of the Universal Credit £325 Payment.
That kind of topic is useful context, but it doesn’t change the core rule here: fit notes mainly affect what Universal Credit expects from you while you’re waiting for a WCA decision, and whether your account treats you as having limited capability once a decision is issued.
Here’s what typically happens in real life when a fit note expires and no new one is recorded:
- Your work coach may book you into appointments or reintroduce work-related tasks.
- The system may start treating you as if you’re able to work as normal.
- If you miss commitments without communicating, you can drift into sanction risk (not because you’re ill, but because UC thinks you’re not meeting agreed requirements).
That’s why continuity matters: not because fit notes are magical, but because they’re the “switch” that keeps your current expectations aligned with your health situation.
Can you be sanctioned if you don’t provide fit notes?
Sanctions are usually linked to not meeting your claimant commitment (for example, failing to attend required appointments or not completing agreed activities), rather than the mere fact of being unwell.
Where fit notes come in is that they help ensure the claimant’s commitment reflects what you can realistically do. Without fit note coverage (or without clear journal messages explaining delays), UC may assume you can do standard work-related tasks.
If those tasks aren’t met and there’s no recorded reason, that’s where sanction risk can creep in.
If you’re worried about sanctions, the strongest protective habits are:
- Keep your fit note dates up to date (until the decision).
- Communicate early in your journal if there’s any delay or barrier.
- Attend appointments if you can; if you can’t, explain and ask for adjustments.
What if you’re moving from ESA to Universal Credit?
If you’re migrating from ESA to Universal Credit, the fit note question depends on whether you already have a WCA outcome that carries over and whether there has been any break or major change.
In many straightforward migrations where your existing work capability status carries across, you may not be expected to restart the fit note cycle. But because migrations can be messy in practice, the safest approach is:
- Check what status UC has applied to your claim (LCWRA/LCW/none).
- If you’re being asked for fit notes and you believe your previous status should carry over, raise it in your journal clearly and ask for confirmation of your work capability status on UC.
If you’re unsure, specialist benefits advice can be worthwhile here because the details of your history (gaps, dates, group status) matter.
What medical evidence helps besides fit notes?
Fit notes keep the process moving, but they’re not always the best evidence for showing how your condition affects you. A WCA is usually about functional impact (what you can and can’t do reliably), not just diagnosis.
This table shows evidence that often strengthens your case because it supports day-to-day limitations.
| Evidence type | What it helps show | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| GP summary/letter | Ongoing history and consistency | diagnosis history, medication, frequency of consultations |
| Hospital letters | Severity, investigations, specialist input | outpatient letters, discharge summaries, test results |
| Treatment plans | Ongoing care needs | physiotherapy plan, mental health care plan |
| Medication history | Side effects and stability | changes in medication, sedation, flare patterns |
| Occupational therapy/physio notes | Functional limitations | mobility, pain, fatigue, and daily activity impact |
| Support letters | Practical impact | carer notes, support worker notes (where appropriate) |
A useful way to organise evidence without overwhelming anyone is to group it by impact area (mobility, fatigue, concentration, anxiety, pain, continence, daily living). Keep each upload/message purposeful.
LCWRA payment timing (why people keep renewing fit notes even after a decision)
A lot of people keep sending fit notes because they’re anxious about money: “If I stop, will I lose backpay or the LCWRA element?”
It helps to treat these as two separate issues:
- Fit notes and the decision process (administrative/medical evidence).
- When the LCWRA element starts being paid (assessment periods, waiting period, and when the decision is applied).
Even if payments take time to show correctly, once your decision is issued and applied, continuing fit notes for the same condition is usually not required. If you think your LCWRA payment is wrong or missing, that’s typically a payment/query issue, not a reason to keep submitting fit notes indefinitely.
If you need to chase payment issues, use journal messages that focus on:
- The decision date.
- When your health condition was first reported/fit notes started.
- Which assessment periods do you believe are affected?
- A polite request for confirmation of when the LCWRA element will be included.
Micro checklist: what you can do next to avoid delays and stress
- Keep fit notes continuous until your WCA decision has been sent to you.
- Renew early if possible; if delays happen, explain them in your UC journal before the fit note expires.
- After a decision for the same condition, you normally stop fit notes unless something new changes (new condition or significant deterioration).
- Keep a personal folder (digital is fine) with fit notes and key letters in date order.
- If UC keeps prompting for fit notes after your decision, ask them to confirm your account has been updated.
What do people talk about this online?
Final summary
You searched when do you stop sending sick notes Universal Credit. The practical answer is:
- Before a WCA decision, keep fit notes going without gaps (renew when they expire).
- After the decision is issued for the same condition, you normally stop issuing fit notes, unless you report a new condition or significant deterioration.
- If UC still asks after your decision, it’s often an admin/system issue; use a short journal message asking them to confirm the claim has been updated.
When do you stop sending sick notes Universal Credit becomes much less stressful once you treat fit notes as a “bridge” to a formal WCA decision, rather than something you’re expected to do forever.
FAQ
Do you still need fit notes after you’re awarded LCWRA?
Usually, no, once the decision is issued for the same condition, fit notes are normally no longer required unless you report something new or your condition significantly changes.
Do you still need fit notes after you’re found LCW (not LCWRA)?
Usually, no for the same condition after the decision is issued. Your claimant commitment may still include some work-related activity, but it should reflect your limitations.
What if you’re found fit for work but you’re still unwell?
If your condition later worsens substantially or you develop a new condition, you can report a change and provide new medical evidence. If you disagree with the decision, you may consider Mandatory Reconsideration (MR) and appeal routes, but keep your reporting accurate and timely.
What if your GP won’t keep issuing fit notes?
Ask whether the surgery can renew the fit note for an ongoing condition without a full appointment. If not, request the earliest appointment and put a journal message explaining the situation and the date you expect the next fit note.
Can you work while providing fit notes on Universal Credit?
Some people can do limited work while still having health-related restrictions. Fit notes don’t always mean no work at all; they indicate your condition affects your capability for work. If you start or change work, report it properly so UC can set appropriate expectations.
Author note
This guide is written in the style used by benefits advisers: clear what to do next steps, practical journal wording, and the reality of how UC processes fit notes and WCA outcomes. It focuses on avoiding the most common admin traps, fit note gaps, unclear reporting, and not knowing when the decision actually ends the fit note stage.
