Work Capability Assessment/WCA - Fit for Work, LCW and LCWRA

7501x

Hi everyone. I’ve just had my WCA via telephone (was meant to be face to face but I requested it was changed to telephone, they booked it as a video call but then it went ahead as a normal telephone call 🤷‍♀️). 

The lady was lovely, she started by asking about my mental health difficulties. She very briefly touched on my physical difficulties however we barely spoke about this. She then said she had all the information she needed and I would hear from DWP in a few weeks. She acknowledged she hadn’t spoken about my physical difficulties but reiterated she “has all the information she needs”. I asked if it was something to worry about that she didn’t need to discuss the physical aspects and she reassured it wasn’t and again said she had all the info she needed. I know asking if something needs worrying about it a pointless question as everyone will always say it’s not to reassure you; however being a worrier means that question is part of daily vocab!

I guess my question is whether this sounds positive or negative that she hasn’t discussed everything? What do you guys think please? I’m waiting on a PIP renew assessment and now the WCA outcomes (both assessments within 8 days of each other) so as you can imagine I’m doing my own head in with questions, worry, did I explain myself well enough etc etc.

Sorry for the long post and TIA for any help 😊 x

bg844

It simply means what she has said to you, it does sound quite positive but until you get a decision you are just speculating. I know it’s an anxious time but UC/ESA are relatively quick with decisions.

Your PIP decision may take several months as there’s a huge backlog at the moment.

7501x

@bg844 thank you for the quick reply! You’re so right; I know I need to wait and that’s the problem as it’s so flipping hard 😩😂 hopefully it won’t take too long to hear from them. I really do hope it’s positive as I had to leave my employment around 18 months ago and it was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make but physically and emotionally I couldn’t cope anymore. I don’t suppose you know roughly how long WCA decisions take dk you? 

Also do you know if any successful LCWRA claims backdate the payments? 

Thanks again 🙏 

bg844

The decision timescale is up to 12 weeks. Some can have a decision the same day, some a few days later and at worst a few weeks. I do understand how you are feeling, is there anything you could do to take your mind off it all a little? 

Yes they do backdate but there’s a waiting period of 3 months so it’d be from the 4th, provided you have continuously sent fit notes. As advised above, PIP may take a few months but as it’s a review payment continues.

Good Luck.

poppy123456

During the assessment they don't always need to ask about all of your health conditions. They may already have enough of information for some of your health conditions. If they needed to ask everyone about everything then assessments would last a lot longer than they already do and there's never enough of time to do this.

The time to write about all your health conditions was when you filled out the form. The assesment is for them to gather extra evidence to support your claim.

Now the assessment is completed the report will be written and returned to DWP. From there a decision will be made. Once it's made, if you have access to a journal the decision letter will be uploaded onto there.

bobby123

Have wca assesments for lcwra started up again??

poppy123456

bobby123 said:

Have wca assesments for lcwra started up again??

No, not reviews. WCAs are only for new claims and change of circumstances.

7501x

Thank you @bg844 I’m sure I’ll be fine. Just need to try and forget about them until I hear anything. I’ve done the leg work now I can’t do anymore so I’m trying to tell myself there’s no point in worrying! 

Re the backdating - I submitted my forms in December 2021. I’ve been submitting fit notes from my GP since August 2021. Would that mean that if I do get awarded LCWRA that I would be backdated to April 2022? So essentially I’d receive a payment covering 10 months?

Thanks again 😊

poppy123456

7501x said:

Re the backdating - I submitted my forms in December 2021. I’ve been submitting fit notes from my GP since August 2021. Would that mean that if I do get awarded LCWRA that I would be backdated to April 2022? So essentially I’d receive a payment covering 10 months?

Thanks again 😊

LCWRA would start from the assessment period in which you reported your health condition. The LCWRA element is paid from the 4th month after you reported your health condition/sent your first fit note.

The LCWRA element will be paid from either Dec 2021 or Jan 2022. Depending on the exact date you reported your health condition/sent your first fit note and what date you usually receive your money each month.

7501x

Thanks @poppy123456

My health condition has been ongoing for 10+ years. I started my UC claim Approx December 2018 so my health condition was present then. I was working up until my health unfortunately meant I had to leave; I left in October 2021. 

During my time on UC I’ve submitted fit notes off and on, and also had a WCA before my health drastically declined (whereby I was found fit for work but I didn’t have the confidence to dispute it). 

If I was awarded LCWRA would the back payment take into account all of the above time?

thanks

calcotti

7501x said:

If I was awarded LCWRA would the back payment take into account all of the above time?

No. It should be backdated until August 2021 when you reported the change in your health (if I've understood the narrative correctly) which means that the payment would e payable from December 2021 or January 2022.

poppy123456

7501x said:

If I was awarded LCWRA would the back payment take into account all of the above time?

No because you were found fit for work. When did you report a change of circumstances? In a previous comment you said it was August 2021, if so it will be paid from the 4th month after that as i advised here.

poppy123456 said:

LCWRA would start from the assessment period in which you reported your health condition. The LCWRA element is paid from the 4th month after you reported your health condition/sent your first fit note.

The LCWRA element will be paid from either Dec 2021 or Jan 2022. Depending on the exact date you reported your health condition/sent your first fit note and what date you usually receive your money each month.

7501x

Thanks @calcotti and @poppy123456. I’ll have a look through my previous journal to see when exactly it was reported. Would it need to be a fit note, an official “change of circumstances” submission, or something similar?

I received my decision letter today and I’m so pleased to tell you that I’ve been put in the LCWRA group! Obviously this is bitter sweet for obvious reasons, but what a huge weight that’s been lifted!

C 😊 

poppy123456

Usually the correct procedure is you would "report a change of circumstances" tell them about your health condition and then it would prompt you to report a fit note within 7 days of that.

7501x

Thanks @poppy123456 I’ve had a look through my previous single claimant journal notes. To be honest there is mention of my health condition all the time! I therefore have no idea how to determine at which point my LCWRA waiting period would start. Any advice at all before my Case Manager calls me thismorning?

also, do you know how long it normally takes following the WCA decision letter for any backdated payments to be received?

poppy123456

Mentioning your health condition isn't going to make a difference. In a previous comment you said you've been sending fit notes since August 2021, is that correct? You need to be sending fit notes without any gaps.

It can often take a few weeks to pay what they owe you. First they need to recalculate your past statements to work out how much is owed. When they recalculate them the new ones will replace your exisiting ones. If you want to take copies you should do that.