Understanding benefits

Anne123anne

Hi, I was on UC but due to illness was signed off unfit to work. Being in the house wasn’t helpful and I’ve taken a part time job it’s all I can manage. Whilst sending in sick notes I was asked to fill in a form for assessment and had a telephone interview on the 31/5 my sick notes were from February to May. 

I’ve been awarded LCWRA confirmed on the 7/6/23 I’m not sure what it entails, will I get financial help and if so when should I expect it. My UC is paid on the 18th and 2nd of a month. Award period is from the 11th to the 10th. 

Thank you 

poppy123456

Your maximum UC entitlement will increase by £390.06/month. The extra money is paid from the 4th month after you reported your health condition/sent
your first fit note. 

Your first payment will be either June or July. The exact date will depend on what date exactly you reported your health condition/sent your first fit note. 

If you’ve also been working and receiving earnings if you didn’t have the work allowance, you will also be entitled to this so there maybe some money owed from this. 

Anne123anne

Thank you. 

Anne123anne

Sorry to ask another question will that just update in my journal and show in payments.
Thank you again for your help.

poppy123456

If you can tell me what date exactly you reported your health condition/sent your first fit note then i can tell you when your first LCWRA payment will be. 

Anne123anne

My first sick note was in February my last one ran out the 15th May and I started that part time job around that time. I’m confused because it mentions on a web search there shouldn’t be a break in your sick notes. Thank you 

poppy123456

I know your first fit note was in Feb but I need to know the exact date you reported this.

You are supposed to send fit notes without any gaps until a decision is made on your WCA. As there’s a gap then it will be down to a decision maker to decide when the extra money is paid from. You can ask if you can provide a backdated fit note from the date your last one expired and they may allow this but there’s no guarantee. 

Anne123anne

Hi my hi my first sick note was submitted and started on the 15th February 2023. I stopped getting sick notes when it ran out on the 15th May because I started a part time job, I can only manage part time. I didn’t think you could be working and handing in sick notes. I’m sorry I’m just not aware of how things work. Thank you 

poppy123456

Anne123anne said:

I didn’t think you could be working and handing in sick notes. 

This only applies if you’re not claiming a disability benefit such as PIP or DLA and you were receiving more than 16xNMW/ week for earnings. 

If they allow the gap your waiting period will be March to June.. LCWRA starts from assessment period 12th June to 11th July and first payment will be 18th July.

Anne123anne

So I should speak to the GP and see if they’ll back date a sick note from the 16/5/23 until the date the award was made, 07/06/2023. 

Sorry I really don’t have a clue, how things like this work. Thank you 

poppy123456

There’s no harm in trying. You will need to check your statement in July to see if the LCWRA element is included. 

Anne123anne

Thank you 

Cher_Alumni

Hi @Anne123anne and welcome to our online community, how are you doing?

It's another world with benefits, isn't it?! I'm so glad you found us to clarify things and good luck with requesting your GP backdate a fit note 

Anne123anne

My first sick note was 17/2 due to assessment period my award will be in the assessment period 12/06 to 11/07. 

Will the award be backdated to the 17/2 or from the date the award was applied 08/06? 

Thank you 

poppy123456

Anne123anne said:

My first sick note was 17/2 due to assessment period my award will be in the assessment period 12/06 to 11/07. 

Will the award be backdated to the 17/2 or from the date the award was applied 08/06? 

Thank you 

The LCWRA element will only be paid from assessment period 12th June to 11th July if they allow the gap in your fit note.

If they don't allowance the gap then the waiting period will start from when your fit note was continuous. Either way, no LCWRA element is owed. This is because the LCWRA element isn't paid at all during the waiting period.

If you were receiving earnings and didn't previously have the work allowance then you maybe owed some money for this.

Anne123anne

Thank you, the note in my journal did say “ The fit notes would have covered you up until you were assessed. They were accepted and you have been found to have a limited capability for work related activity.

The LCWRA element has been added to your claim from the 17/02/23.”

poppy123456

Anne123anne said:

The LCWRA element has been added to your claim from the 17/02/23.”

Yes but the waiting period means you won't receive your first payment until July. No LCWRA element is owed.

I'm glad to hear they accepted the gap.

Anne123anne

Thank you it’s just confusing especially the wording, by using from the 17/02 made me think the wait period would be 17/02 to 17/05. 

Regardless its been granted so a weight off my shoulders. Thank you again for the prompt responses.

poppy123456

Looking back through your comments, you said that you sent your first fit note on 15th Feb but they are starting it from 17th Feb.

Though, it makes no difference because the waiting period is 3 full assessment periods. It's then paid from the 4th month, with first payment being the end of that month because UC is paid 1 month in arrears.

If you receive your payment on 18th and 2nd of every month then your assessment periods will be 12 to 11th of every month. This means you sent your first fit note in the middle of assessment period Feb to March, which doesn't count because it's not a full month. This makes your waiting period March to June.. LCWRA then starts from June to July with first payment being 18th July.

calcotti

Anne123anne said:

Thank you it’s just confusing especially the wording, by using from the 17/02 made me think the wait period would be 17/02 to 17/05. 

Regardless its been granted so a weight off my shoulders. Thank you again for the prompt responses.

The ‘waiting period’ indeed ends on 17/05. The extra money, the LCWRA element, is then paid with the next UC assessment period that starts after the waiting period ends which in your case is 12th June to 11th July which is paid on 18th July.

Anne123anne

I get it now I think I just over complicated it in my mind.
Thank you