Going from JSB to Illness Benefit?

I'm on JSB and have an appt to see GP next week. I think my depression is returning(brought on by my financial situation and unemployment). Should I go on Illness benefit then? And if so how long will it last for? Will it effect me returning to work if I am actually successful in finding work again?
Thanks for any advise

The doc has a form that he will sign if he declares you unfit to look for work. You need to take that to SW office and they will put you on sickness benefit. You need to get weekly certs (or forms - cannot remember which) from doctor and hand them in to SW office weekly and lastly doc needs to sign another form to state you are fit to return to looking for work. Then you need to reopen your claim for JSB.
P.S. They money from sickness benefit takes FOREVER to come through!

It's not always the case that Illness Benefit takes a long time to come through - the Dept attempt to fast track straightforward cases where a person has an entitlement and has provided all relevant information.

As haggis said, the application form for Illness Benefit is attached to the first medical cert that the GP will give you - send it to the address on the form and continue to send a cert each week you are unfit for work.