Can anyone give me some advice? Employment and LWCA

jakobthewiseone

I am currently on LWCA with Universal Credit and also receive Personal Independence Payment. I am on this due to my mental health. The NHS Trust that is supporting me with my mental Health have offered me a work placement for 12 months at £152 a week at 16 hours a week. These placements are to support people with mental health get back into employment.

Please could someone explain if it would effect my LWCA or my UC? I feel that I am in a place where I can now go on WCA the band lower then LWCA. I also feel that 16 hours is the maximum hours I can do at present.

My Questions are:

1/ How will this impact my UC?

2/ Can I ask to be put on WCA

3/ Can I ask UC to honour the fact that working 16 hours a week is the maximum I can cope this at present?

I am sorry, I have tried to use a benefit calculate but it confuses me.

Thank you for your help

poppy123456

1/ There’s no maximum amount of hours you can work while claiming UC. You will have the work allowance which means you can earn a certain amount of money each month before the 55% deductions apply. If you claim for help with any rent your work allowance is £344, if you don’t it’s £573.

2/ Not sure what you mean by that. You’ve already been found to have LCWRA and this will continue for as long as you remain entitled to it. 

3/ I don’t know what you mean by that. As advised above you’ve already been found to have LCWRA. 

If the work you do contradicts the reasons why you were found to have LCWRA then it could go against you at your next review. 

If you start working you must report a change of circumstances and tell them your working. 

If you’re claiming council tax reduction you will also need to report the changes to your local authority.