SPM50110 -Medical Referrals - Overview

Responsibility for handling medical referrals

HMRC are responsible for seeking any medical advice required to:

• advise employers who, for SSP purposes, ask for independent medical advice on whether their employee is unfit for work due to incapacity.
• advise employers who are unsure whether an employee's incapacity is pregnancy related for SMP purposes.
• give an opinion or decision under section 8 of SSCTOFA1999/article 7 of SSCTOFO (NI)1999 when an employer and employee do not agree that the employee's absence from work is due to:

• • sickness or incapacity for work, or
  • a pregnancy related illness or condition.

For handling disputes, see Decisions and Appeals for National Insurance and Statutory Payments