LCWRA Reassessment/Review & Fit Notes

Angela45

Hi. I suffer with depression, anxiety and OCD. I was awarded Universal Credit with LCWRA in Feb 2019 after my mum passed away. I also receive ESA. I filled out WCA form but didn’t have to go for an assessment. I received a message on my UC journal in Feb 2022 saying I had to start supplying fit notes again. When I asked why they said it was because my LCWRA was up for a review and I needed to be reassessed. I heard that they aren’t doing reassessments at the moment. I have been supplying fit notes for over a year and it is very stressful trying to get new ones from the doctors. All this is making my depressive and anxiety worse. I would appreciate any advice. 

poppy123456

LCWRA is an ongoing award until a new decision says otherwise. You shouldn't need to send any further fit notes so the message you had last year wasn't correct. Reviews are suspended and have been for almost 3 years. Put a message onto your journal and tell them you do not need to send any further fit notes because you've already been found to have LCWRA.

Angela45

Thank you. That’s what I thought after reading other information online. I did question it quite a few times on my journal last year but they kept saying that I need to keep supplying up to date fit notes. Will try leaving another message but am not very hopeful. 

paries1

Really strange that they’ve made you send in fit notes for over a year and worrying that they could make others do it. I thought once awarded LCWRA you had to be reassessed again for anything to change. If you’ve left messages on your journal and they’re still insisting on fit notes they could potentially do this to the rest of us receiving LCWRA. Let us know what happens Angela45 pls 

poppy123456

There's been a couple of other threads over the past several months where they've been asked to do the same. Can't remember what happened with that though.

paries1

Very strange . 

Just been on gov website and found this . Says they have reassessed some but only a fraction compared to new claims 

poppy123456

That's likely referring to those that were sent forms just at the start of the pendemic. I had one in March 2020 but mine was paper based and had the decision in early July 2020.

paries1

Oh ok , thanks poppy123456. 

Just really hoping they leave me alone for the rest of this year. 

poppy123456

It's very unlikely they will start back anytime soon. When they do there will be huge delays so i wouldn't think you'll be reviewed anytime soon. If it's UC you're claiming, the good thing (if you want to call it that) is when you're reviewed you will receive a letter on your journal telling you that you're being referred. Within the next week you should receive the form in the post. Those claiming ESA just have that lovely surprise (not) in the post.

Angela45

Yes I had a paper form in 2020 as well and had a decision not long after saying my LCWRA would continue. Then in Feb 2022 they just started demanding Fit notes again. I worry the doctors will stop giving them to me soon. I’m due a new one in July. I also worry about putting further messages on my journal as it may trigger the assessment and I’m scared about that as well. It’s all very overwhelming. 

poppy123456

They are suspended so it shouldn’t trigger anything. 

Angela45

Ok. Thanks. Will let you know how I get on. 

paries1

poppy123456 said:

It's very unlikely they will start back anytime soon. When they do there will be huge delays so i wouldn't think you'll be reviewed anytime soon. If it's UC you're claiming, the good thing (if you want to call it that) is when you're reviewed you will receive a letter on your journal telling you that you're being referred. Within the next week you should receive the form in the post. Those claiming ESA just have that lovely surprise (not) in the post.

Thanks poppy123456. 

paries1

Angela45 said:

Yes I had a paper form in 2020 as well and had a decision not long after saying my LCWRA would continue. Then in Feb 2022 they just started demanding Fit notes again. I worry the doctors will stop giving them to me soon. I’m due a new one in July. I also worry about putting further messages on my journal as it may trigger the assessment and I’m scared about that as well. It’s all very overwhelming. 

I know exactly how you feel about thinking something will trigger a reassessment. I don’t even sign into my journal, my landlord put the rent up by £50 pm in November 2022 and I just pay it out of my LCWRA money rather than having to deal with the rigmarole of uploading a new tenancy agreement, I think that’s mainly to do with the fear that it’ll trigger an assessment but as poppy123456 has said it shouldn’t, the worry never goes though . 

JBS2022

As LCWRA is an ongoing award, you shouldn't be asked for notes, even if they had restarted. Loads of people have received this message on the journal, although noone actually seems to have been reviewed. It's seems to be a mistake. As far as I'm aware, reviews have not restarted.

poppy123456

paries1 said:

Angela45 said:

Yes I had a paper form in 2020 as well and had a decision not long after saying my LCWRA would continue. Then in Feb 2022 they just started demanding Fit notes again. I worry the doctors will stop giving them to me soon. I’m due a new one in July. I also worry about putting further messages on my journal as it may trigger the assessment and I’m scared about that as well. It’s all very overwhelming. 

I know exactly how you feel about thinking something will trigger a reassessment. I don’t even sign into my journal, my landlord put the rent up by £50 pm in November 2022 and I just pay it out of my LCWRA money rather than having to deal with the rigmarole of uploading a new tenancy agreement, I think that’s mainly to do with the fear that it’ll trigger an assessment but as poppy123456 has said it shouldn’t, the worry never goes though . 

Reporting changes such as increase in rent will not trigger a new assessment. Rent has nothing to do with LCWRA. However, if you're privately renting then you may already be claiming the maximum housing element for your circumstances. You can check the amount you're entitled to here. https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/ the amounts will be weekly so you'll need to convert it to monthly, to do that "times" the amount by 52 and then divide by 12.

life

I actually talked to someone from UC about this last year and they said it's just something that gets sent to UC accounts. They made it clear that as I'm on lcwra I don't have to send in fit notes and to disregard the message.

I still get the the message.

life

It won't let me upload a picture of the message but it's under to do list and says health - declare a new fit note. 

JBS2022

life said:

It won't let me upload a picture of the message but it's under to do list and says health - declare a new fit note. 

Lots of people have been getting these messages. DWP say ignore it if you LCWRA

Angela45

Thank thank you to everyone for their comments. I think I will try and contact Citizens Advice and see what I get say. I’m worried if I just stop sending fit notes they will stop the l extra money I get for LCWRA. 

poppy123456

LCWRA is an ongoing award until a new decision says otherwise, it doesn't just stop. Fit notes are no longer needed.