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Giving up job on LCWRA & PIP

Harmony93

Hi everyone. I was assessed and put in the LCWRA group a year ago. I wanted to carry on working (self-employed) despite this and my numerous health issues. However, I have become more physically unwell over the past year. I now feel I can't possibly work any longer, have recently (2wks ago) been awarded PIP. I know this is unconnected to UC but I am wondering whether I can just tell UC I'm giving up my job and not lose my UC and the extra LCWRA related element? I have posted several messages in my journal recently but got no reply.
To be fair, I could have not been working at all over the past year but I didn't want to give in or be just claiming benefits. I am in so much pain now that I can't continue any longer.
Do I need 'permission' from DWP to stop work, or can I just 'tell them' I have?? Thank you.

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Comments

Adeline

If you have an active award for LCWRA then you have no work commitments with UC. This means you can leave work without worry about your UC claim. You don't need permission and can just report the change that you are no longer working @Harmony93.

poppy123456

In this thread here https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/102489/lcwra-commitments#latest you said you were found to have LCWRA a year ago but didn't realise. Please check your statements to make sure the LCWRA element is included in your claim. If you're living with a partner that already claims the LCWRA element then you can only receive one per claim.

Harmony93

Hi Adeline. Thank you so much for your reply, I really appreciate it. This is very reassuring. I have been struggling so much to keep going, I don't sleep either so am constantly exhausted.

Thanks for your help. Have a good day 🙂

Harmony93

Hi Poppy. My apologies for not being more clear. I meant I have been in the LCWRA group a year but didn't realise I no longer have a work coach.

I realise now that it makes sense that I don't but I either didn't know, or I had completely forgotten!! I wondered why they didn't answer my messaged anymore!! Silly me.

Yes I get the LCWRA element.

Have just been doing a few hours a week self-employed.

Thanks for your reply.

calcotti

Please do as poppy says and check that you do actually have LCWRA. There will have been letters in your journal advising you of LCWRA when the decision was made. As poppy also says, unless your partner (if you have one) gets LCWRA, you will also be getting extra money in your UC payment. In your other thread you said you didn’t know you had LCWRA but I would have thought you would have noticed the increase in your payments.

If you can safely stop work you should report this by using ‘Report a Change’ for employment.

Harmony93

My apologies for being unclear.

I was referring not realising I no longer have a work coach (as a point of contact)

Harmony93

I don't have a partner and yes I knew I was getting the LCWRA UC element.

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply.

calcotti

Harmony93 said:

My apologies for being unclear.

I was referring not realising I no longer have a work coach (as a point of contact)

People on LCWRA do not have a Work Coach for someone LCWRA is not required to work.

Just ‘Report a Change’.

Harmony93

Thank you. I have just notified UC through my journal that I have finished my self employment as of Sunday. I just wanted to know if I would get in trouble for not working. I had forgotten that I actually didn't have to anyway, so I've been struggling all this time for no reason. Thanks for your help.

Harmony93

@Alex_Scope sorry... I have replied above to your comment on my other similar thread. Thank you x

Alex_Alumni

That's okay @Harmony93 I'm glad we've been able to help support you

calcotti

Should have mentioned before that you may be asked to attend JobCentre for an appointment so that they confirm that you ceased self employment. Once they have confirmed this you will no longer be required to make monthly reports of your self employment income and expenditure.

bright_one72

hi there,

juts checking this info is still correct? I’ve been in sick leave and was awarded LCRWA. I have attempted to return to work part time and I can’t do it. The employer wants me to resign. So I want to make sure it won’t affect my UC and LCRWA. I get ADP as I’m disabled.

Rosie_Scope

Hi @bright_one72, welcome to the community 😊

Yes, this is still the case. People on LCWRA have no commitments, so you can leave a job without facing any sanctions if you can no longer manage it. You still need to let them know that you're no longer working, but you won't be punished for leaving.

vojtas71

hi,

I have been on long-term sick leave for around 10 months and I am no longer receiving any income from my employer. I remain formally employed, but I am not currently working due to my health condition.

I have recently been awarded Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity (LCWRA) under Universal Credit, so I am not required to work or look for work. However, my employer still contacts me regularly and asks me to attend meetings or provide updates, which I find difficult given my situation.

As it is likely that my recovery will take a long time, and I may not be able to return to work at all, I would like to end my employment.

What is the best way to do this so that I do not negatively affect my Universal Credit (including the LCWRA element) or create any problems for myself? Is it better to resign, or are there other options I should consider? What steps should I take before making a decision?

Rosie_Scope

Hi @vojtas71, You can resign if that's what you feel would be best for you, you would just need to let Universal Credit know that you're no longer employed by reporting a Change of Circumstances. Your benefits won't be affected by resigning as your LCWRA means you don't have any work commitments and can leave your job at any time if you need to. Unless you're due any unpaid holiday or other money from your employer, your payments should stay the same as normal ☺️

vojtas71

thank you for your answer

robinhood

hi vojtas71 my advice to you is DO NOT RESIGN!!! While you are still employed you are protected by the disability act, keep going to the meetings while you are on long term sick you are still accruing holidays, let your employer finish you! Depending on how many years you have been there they will then have to pay you a weeks wages for every year up to a maximum of 12, plus holidays accrued , if you resign you get nothing, hope this helps