Lcwra - Help with backdating

mauds

Hello, 
I applied for uc in April 2021 on the forms I filled in online I said I have a health issue. After my claim it said I would get a phone call I didn’t have this phone call it’s still on my to do list saying they will phone me. In June 2022 my husband was off work sick so his wages dropped and I was told I need to look for work I explained about my health and filled in forms and has assessment etc and was awarded lcwra in November 20/22. I didn’t know about Lcwra until I was awarded it I had no idea it was even a thing. I am now wondering that because I didn’t have that 1st phone call if I would be entitled to back payment of Lcwra from when my claim started. If I had the phone call I would have discussed all this with them at that time and not in June 2022 when they asked me to look for work. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. 

poppy123456

The first phone call when you claimed UC has nothing to do with LCWRA element. If you sent fit notes without any gaps until a decision was made on your work capability assessment then it will be paid from the 4th month after you first claimed UC.

If there were gaps in your fit notes then it can affect when the LCWRA element is paid from. Without gaps it would be paid from either Aug or Sept 2021.

As the decision was made in November 2022 have you received any LCWRA elements yet? The above advice is assuming your husband doesn't already receive this element for himself.

mauds

Hi Poppy, 
no my husband doesn’t get Lcwra I have had payments since November. I didn’t know that I had to send fit notes until June 2022 when they asked me to. I have fit notes from April 2021 my next one runs out in may 2023. 

Also just wanted to say I have found your advice very helpful, I’ve just made my account today but have been coming on here reading lots of posts and you are super so thank you. 

poppy123456

Thanks for the kind words.

mauds said:

 I didn’t know that I had to send fit notes until June 2022 when they asked me to. I have fit notes from April 2021

I don’t understand this. When you first claimed UC in April 2021 and reported your health condition, it should have then asked you to report a fit note. Although at that time you would have just needed to add the details of the fit note into your journal. Didn’t you receive anything on your to do list asking you to report a fit note? 

This is probably why you haven’t received any money owed. It seems like they’ve started your waiting period from June 2022. 

You can go back through your journal to check that you definitely reported your health condition when you first claimed. If you definitely did then put a message on your journal under the payment section. Tell them that you reported your health condition when you first claimed but it didn’t ask you to report a fit note. 

mauds

Yes, I went through my journey and checked on the form that I did report a health condition when I applied in April 2021. I will put a note and see what happens I think they have gone from June also, the money I got takes into account the waiting period starting from June. If I had been asked to upload the notes I would have done so but I had no add fit notes to do until after June. 

mauds

Just an update, I have been awarded lcwra from the start of my claim. I did a MR then Appealed but before the hearing they decided to cancel the appeal and award me from the start of my claim. 

Hannah_Alumni

That's great @mauds I'm glad they sorted it