Topic Guide
Sick Note & Fit Note Basics
The fundamentals of UK sick notes and fit notes — what they are, when you need one, what they look like, self-certification, and how private certificates compare.
Start here
Start with who can issue a fit note and what your recipient needs. Employer sickness evidence, university mitigation and DWP benefit requirements are different. The first seven calendar days of ordinary sickness absence can normally be self-certified.

Sick Note During Notice Period: UK Guide
Understand sickness absence, notice pay and fit note rules when you resign or are dismissed, with practical steps based on current UK guidance.
12 min read
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Carer’s Leave Certificate: Check the Scheme Before Paying
A detailed guide on carer's leave certificates, covering employee rights under the Carer's Leave Act 2023, employer evidence requests, and obtaining medical proof.
7 min read
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Carer’s Leave Rights: Is Medical Evidence Required?
Understand the Carer's Leave Act 2023. Learn when employers can and cannot ask for medical evidence for carer's leave and how to protect your rights.
10 min read
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Maternity Medical Certificates & Pregnancy Sickness in the UK
Pregnant and facing illness at work or need travel clearance? Learn the UK rules for pregnancy-related sickness and how to get medical evidence.
10 min read
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University Mitigating Circumstances: Medical Evidence Guide
Navigating university extenuating or mitigating circumstances in the UK? Learn what medical evidence is required, what universities accept, and how to apply.
7 min read
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Medical Evidence for Holiday, Travel Cancellation, and Gym Membership Refunds
Unexpected illness or injury disrupting your holiday, flight, or gym membership? Learn what medical evidence is required to claim refunds or cancel contracts in the UK.
11 min read
Read Article →Self-Certification Sick Note: SC2 and UK 7 Day Rule
Learn how SC2 self-certification works in the UK, when the 7 day rule ends, and when you may need a fit note or medical certificate.
11 min read
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What Does a Sick Note Look Like in the UK?
What does a sick note look like in the UK? Learn the main sections of a fit note, what makes it valid, and how digital notes differ from older forms.
12 min read
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Private Medical Certificate vs NHS Fit Note: What's the Difference?
Not all medical documents are the same. Discover the key differences between a private medical certificate and a standard NHS fit note.
4 min read
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What Is a Fit Note? A Complete UK Guide
Everything you need to know about fit notes in the UK, from how they replace traditional sick notes to what information they must contain.
5 min read
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Student Sick Notes: What Universities Accept
Medical evidence for extenuating circumstances at UK universities. What students need to know when they miss exams or deadlines.
5 min read
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Do I Need a Sick Note for Work?
Understand the UK legal requirements for sick notes, the 7-day self-certification rule, and when your employer can request medical evidence.
5 min read
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How to Get a Sick Note Online in the UK: A Complete Guide
Learn how an online sickness assessment works, when to self-certify, and how to check certificate requirements before paying for a private review.
9 min read
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Benefits & DWP Medical Evidence
How medical certificates and fit notes support UK benefit claims — Universal Credit, PIP, ESA, and evidence for the self-employed.
Mental Health & Stress at Work
Guides on mental health conditions, workplace stress, anxiety, clinical depression, burnout, and obtaining a sick note for mental wellbeing.
Sick Notes for Specific Conditions
Information on getting a sick note for specific physical symptoms and illnesses, including back pain, sciatica, chest infections, flu, food poisoning, and migraines.
Surgery, Dental & Post-Op Recovery
Your guide to medical evidence after surgeries, operations, hospital discharges, dental appointments, and dental surgery recovery.
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) & Sick Pay Rights
How UK statutory sick pay (SSP) is calculated, qualifying conditions, entitlement rules, and employer sick pay obligations.
Workplace & Employment Rights
Your rights when you're off sick — dismissal, probation, annual leave, part-time and zero-hour contracts, occupational health, phased returns, and what employers can and cannot do.
Sick Note Cost, Rules & Process
The practical mechanics of getting a sick note — cost, who can issue one, how long it lasts, backdating, and what happens if a doctor declines.
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