Send your fit note for your ESA claim

You’ll be told during your application for New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) when you need to send a fit note (sometimes called a ‘sick note’ or a ‘statement of fitness for work’).

Only certain healthcare professionals can give you a fit note.

Send your fit note online

You’ll need your National Insurance number and either:

  • a digital fit note, completed by the healthcare professional
  • a printed fit note, signed by the healthcare professional - you’ll need a photo or copy to upload

This service is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

Start now

Other ways to apply

You can post your fit note. If you need to send any other medical evidence, you must post it.

Send your fit note or other medical evidence to:

Freepost DWP ESA 26

Part of How to claim New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA): step by step

  1. Step 1 Check if you're eligible

    1. Check if you're eligible for ESA

    You might also be eligible for Universal Credit.

    1. Find out about Universal Credit

  2. and Start your claim

    1. Find out how to start your claim

  3. Step 2 Attend the appointment with your work coach

    You'll agree what actions you need to take to get payments. This is called a 'Claimant Commitment'.

  4. Step 3 Get your first payment

    You’ll get a letter telling you if you’ll get New Style ESA and how much.

    1. How much you're paid

  5. and Give updates about your health and circumstances

    To keep getting New Style ESA you must send fit notes regularly and report any change in your circumstances.

    1. You are currently viewing: Send a fit note
    2. Report any change in your circumstances

  6. Step 4 Fill in and send the ESA50 form

    You'll get form ESA50 in the post within 4 weeks of your first payment. Return it within 28 days.

    1. Get help filling in ESA50 form

  7. Step 5 Attend a Work Capability Assessment

    You may need to go for a Work Capability Assessment. If you do, you'll get a letter telling you where to go and when.

    1. Prepare for your Work Capability Assessment

  8. Step 6 Get a decision about how much you'll get

    You'll get a letter with a decision. It will also tell you if you'll need to be assessed again.

    1. How much you can get
    2. Find out how to challenge the decision

    To keep getting the right amount you'll need to report any change in your circumstances.

    1. Report a change of circumstances

  9. Step 7 Check if your payments will stop or if you'll be reassessed

    You'll be told if your payments will stop and when.

    1. Get support from Jobcentre Plus when your payments stop

    If you'll need to be assessed again, you'll be sent an ESA50 form. This is normally within 3 years.