Time period and what is needed
| Period off work |
Certificate |
| 1 to 3 days |
No certificate or a private certificate signed by a doctor; fee payable for latter. |
| 4 to 7 days (including weekend) |
SC1 (self certificate) completed by patient, or private cert, signed by a doctor; fee payable for latter. |
| 8 days to 28 weeks |
Med 3 or Med 5 certifying inability to work signed by a doctor; no fee. |
| 28 weeks or more |
Med 3 or Med 5 as above until the Benefits Agency asks for Med 4 to be completed by a doctor; no fee. |
You do not need an appointment with the doctor for the first two items above unless you require the private certificate. Sometimes it will be possible to obtain a continuation certificate without seeing a doctor. Please telephone the surgery and leave a request with the receptionists. Certificates cannot be issued in advance, but should you be late in applying for one, they can be back-dated. Wherever possible please allow 48 hours for the repeat certificate. This will give the doctor time to complete it should he be away from the surgery or dealing with emergencies.