The Social Security (Medical Evidence) Regulations 1976

Evidence of incapacity for work and confinement

2.—(1) Where a person claims any benefit and his entitlement to that benefit depends on his being incapable of work in respect of the day or days to which his claim relates, he shall furnish evidence of such incapacity in respect of that day or those days either by means of a certificate in the form of a statement in writing given by a doctor in accordance with the rules set out in Part I of Schedule 1 to these regulations on the form set out in Part II of that Schedule or by such other means as may be sufficient in the circumstances of any particular case.

(2) Every person to whom paragraph (1) applies shall, before he returns to work, furnish evidence of the date on which he will become fit to resume work either in accordance with rule 10 of Part I of Schedule 1 to these regulations, or by such other means as may be sufficient in the circumstances of the case.

(3) Every woman who claims maternity benefit shall furnish evidence—

(a) where the claim is made in respect of expectation of confinement, that she is pregnant and as to the stage which she has reached in her pregnancy; or

(b) where the claim is made by virtue of the fact of confinement, that she has been confined,

and shall furnish such evidence by means of a certificate given by a doctor or by a certified midwife in accordance with the rules set out in Part I of Schedule 2 to these regulations in the appropriate form as set out in Part II of that Schedule or by such other means as may be sufficient in the circumstances of any particular case.