The Social Security (Medical Evidence) Regulations 1976

[F1 Self-certificate for first 7 days of a spell of incapacity for work

5.— [F2 (1) [F3 The evidence of incapacity required for the purposes of determining entitlement to a benefit, allowance or advantage referred to in regulation 2(1)]–

(a) for a spell of incapacity which lasts less than 8 days, or

(b) in respect of any of the first 7 days of a longer spell of incapacity;

• may consist of a self certificate instead of a certificate in the form of a statement in writing given by a doctor in accordance with regulation 2(1).]

(2) For the purpose of this regulation-

• a "self-certificate" means a declaration made by the claimant in writing, in a form approved for the purpose by the Secretary of State, that he has been unfit for work from a date or for a period specified in the declaration and may include a statement that the claimant expects to continue to be unfit for work on days subsequent to the date on which it is made;

• [F4 “spell of incapacity” has the meaning given to it by section 171B(3) of the Contributions and Benefits Act.]]

Textual Amendments

F1 Reg. 5 inserted (14.6.1982) by The Social Security (Medical Evidence, Claims and Payments) Amendment Regulations 1982 (S.I. 1982/699), regs. 1(1), 2(2)

F2 Reg. 5(1) substituted (9.10.1989) by The Social Security (Medical Evidence, Claims and Payments) Amendment Regulations 1989 (S.I. 1989/1686), regs. 1(1), 2

F3 Words in reg. 5(1) substituted (13.4.1995) by The Social Security (Medical Evidence) Amendment Regulations 1994 (S.I. 1994/2975), regs. 1(1), 2(4)(a)

F4 Words in reg. 5(2) substituted (13.4.1995) by The Social Security (Medical Evidence) Amendment Regulations 1994 (S.I. 1994/2975), regs. 1(1), 2(4)(b)