Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reasons Jobcentre Plus implementation of regulation 99 of the Universal Credit Regulations 2013 defaults to a 14-day unfit period rather than the number of days specified in a fit note.

Regulation 99 requires work search and work availability requirements to be suspended for up to 14 days to account for a period of sickness. Outside of these set periods, work coaches have the discretion to tailor work search and availability requirements taking into consideration the details on the fit note. Until the claimant has their Work capability Assessment, whilst they are in receipt of a fit note, we will not ask them to take up work.

Regulation 99 applies for the first 2 spells of sickness in a rolling 12 month period. On the third and subsequent spells of sickness the work coach will apply discretion from the outset, taking into consideration the details on the fit note.