Universal Credit transition from LCW to LCWRA?

arthur2506

Good morning all, 

I am posting this to help my sister as she is having a lot of issues with UC and her transition from LCW to LCWRA.

She was receiving LCW for some time and was re-assessed and approved for LCWRA in Nov and informed there was a 3-month assessment period before the new element was included in her UC payment, which is hopefully in the next few days. But is there a back-payment for this 3-month assessment wait period?

As for myself in the past when I received LCWRA, I did receive a back-dated payment for the 3-month assessment period, however, I was put directly onto LCWRA and not LCW initially. This was 2018 and I know there has been a lot of changes to the service.

The people at UC have been so unhelpful and inconsistent, that its mind-boggling to me, the confirmation letter wasn’t sent until Feb 8th but it was incorrect, as it stated she was remaining on LCWRA and there would be no change - which is obviously inaccurate and they admitted it over the phone and said a new letter would be sent but never did. She has also contacted several times to understand when the first payment of the element would be and they stated different answers (Mar/Apr), almost as if they are just guessing and not actually going by any record. As she hasn’t received any other letters regarding the amount, etc, or any other information and using the online journal and calling UC, isn’t getting anywhere.

Apologies for the long post, I hope this makes sense and if you need any information to give me an accurate answer please let me know. AND thank you in advance for any responses!!!

calcotti

If transferred from LCW to LCWRA the LCWRA element should be paid from the UC monthly payment from either
i) the date UC made the LCWRA decision if the assessment was started by them, or
ii) the date in which you reported a deterioration in your health condition if that is what started the new assessment.

arthur2506

calcotti said:

If transferred from LCW to LCWRA the LCWRA element should be paid from the UC monthly payment from either
i) the date UC made the LCWRA decision if the assessment was started by them, or
ii) the date in which you reported a deterioration in your health condition if that is what started the new assessment.

Thank you so much for your response.

So they confirmed it was awarded from Nov 2nd and payment will begin after 3 full assessment periods. Do you know if this means that when she receives her first payment it will be back-dated to Nov 2nd? Or it will just be the one LCWRA element payment, going forward?

Many thanks,
Arthur 

calcotti

arthur2506 said:. 

So they confirmed it was awarded from Nov 2nd and payment will begin after 3 full assessment periods. 

That is incorrect, if you were already on LCW and then changed to LCWRA there isn’t a three month wait.
See

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1085953/admf5.pdf

paragraph F5047

Why was the new assessment carried out?

arthur2506

calcotti said:

arthur2506 said:. 

So they confirmed it was awarded from Nov 2nd and payment will begin after 3 full assessment periods. 

That is incorrect, if you were already on LCW and then changed to LCWRA there isn’t a three month wait.
See

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1085953/admf5.pdf

paragraph F5047

Why was the new assessment carried out?

Okay thank you for sending this I just read through it.

My sister contacted UC on Nov 2nd and requested a WCA for LCWRA, as her mental health was deteriorating. A telephone WCA was then arranged and completed on the Feb 6th and Feb 8th a letter was uploaded confirming award of LCWRA.

But when contacting to understand when the payment would start, they confirmed LCWRA was awarded from Nov 2nd (the day she made the request) but there is a 3-month assessment period to pass before the award is paid.

So going by what you’ve said and the document you kindly sent, it would seem that as the claimant made the request for a further assessment, then the award should have started from Nov 2nd (without a 3-month assessment period) and I assume a back-payment paid separately, either soon after the award was approved in writing or simply included in the next following UC payment. 

Is this all correct?

Thanks again for your help, as if this is the case I now can contact them and sort this out with her!

poppy123456

The LCWRA element should be paid from the assessment period in which the changes were reported. There's no waiting period because she already had LCW.

Money owed is always paid separately to your usual monthly amount.

arthur2506

poppy123456 said:

The LCWRA element should be paid from the assessment period in which the changes were reported. There's no waiting period because she already had LCW.

Money owed is always paid separately to your usual monthly amount.

Thank you for all your help, now I can help my sister deal with UC and DWP and sort this issue out once and for all.

The link you sent to that document, I’ve tried to search to find the document via its title, as it seems to be a subpage to another document. Do you have a link to the website or anything? I want to reference it as clearly as possible when I deal with them directly. 

poppy123456

I didn't post the link. All you need to do is point them in the dirrection of the link calcotti posted.

sarha65

Hi my husband going through similar was on lcw and asked for uc50 form again to try and get lcwra sent the form back in Nov 2022 still had no word asked on uc journal the reply was they hadn't heard anything thank 

poppy123456

sarha65 said:

Hi my husband going through similar was on lcw and asked for uc50 form again to try and get lcwra sent the form back in Nov 2022 still had no word asked on uc journal the reply was they hadn't heard anything thank 

He will most likely need another assessment, as most people have them. They are mostly done by telephone but some are face to face and video. There are backlogs in a lot of areas. He will be contacted in due course if an assessment is needed.

sarha65

Thanks for reply

dyljones

could anyone help me i was put on lcw in feb 2022 as i suffer from severe anxitey and depression but my work coach made me do new assement and was granted lcwra 25th april from letter on journal i dont understand how it works and when i will be paid many thanks

poppy123456

dyljones said:

could anyone help me i was put on lcw in feb 2022 as i suffer from severe anxitey and depression but my work coach made me do new assement and was granted lcwra 25th april from letter on journal i dont understand how it works and when i will be paid many thanks

If it was a review started by UC then the extra money is paid from the assessment period in which the decision was made. 

dyljones

just said i was awarded it on the 25th april my usual paydate is 15th and i told my work coach my health got worse and she put in to have a new asessment letter just says ive been awarded lcwra you dont need to give any more fit notes and we may owe you some money 

poppy123456

dyljones said:

just said i was awarded it on the 25th april my usual paydate is 15th and i told my work coach my health got worse and she put in to have a new asessment letter just says ive been awarded lcwra you dont need to give any more fit notes and we may owe you some money 

As you told them your conditions got worse then you should have provided a fit note and continue to provide them until a decision was made. If you did that then the extra money will be paid from the assessment period in which you reported the changes.