Recurring illness
Clients with certain forms of chronic illness can suffer from recurring periods of incapacity. This means they need short periods of time off work to recover. For example haemophiliacs or chronic asthma sufferers.
If a client is reapplying for Jobseeker Support, for the same health condition that they have previously received Jobseeker Support (or Supported Living Payment) for, MSD should ask them to have their registered medical practitioner or nurse practitioner (or dentist or midwife where relevant) include whether this is a chronic illness on their medical certificate.
Where the client's illness has been accepted as chronic and reoccurring, MSD should:
- notify them by letter and ask them to bring the letter with them for subsequent applications and
- accept subsequent applications for Jobseeker Support as a re-application of the initial application
A new application form is not required if the client reapplies within 26 weeks of cancelling their previous benefit. However, a new medical certificate is required.
The initial stand-down only applies for the first application for Jobseeker Support (on the ground of a health condition, injury or a disability), there is no time limit.
