LCWRA review

catmumma95

Hello,

This is my first post so hopefully I've posted in the right place! Just wanted some advice as I'm so anxious

According to my universal credit journal I'm going to need a LCWRA review soon. I'm so worried as I've never had a review before and don't know what to expect.

I had a WCA assessment a few years ago and it was absolutely awful, was crying during the appoinment and found it so hard to talk. Then I had to appeal the original decision and the whole process was so stressful.

As this is apparently a review, will it just be a simple case of them looking over the form I fill out and making a decision on that or am I going to have to have an appointment in person again? I'm not sure I can go through all that stress a second time  
Hoping as it's a review I might get a paper assessment?

Thanks in advance for any advice

calcotti

The review will be the same process as the original WCA. You will be sent a new WCA form to complete and return (with any evidence you want to supply). You’ll be likely to then have an assessment.

trb10

You have to treat it as a new application.  Did you keep a copy of the last form you filled out?  If so, use that as a guide.  No-one can say whether it will be a paper based assessment or not.  They are rare but not impossible to have.  Most likely will be a video or telephone assessment.  I think face to face assessments are still few.

catmumma95

Thank you for the replies.
Dreading it now knowing it's not a simple review. I have autism and social anxiety and this is going to affect my mental health so badly 

StillIRise

catmumma95 said:

Thank you for the replies.
Dreading it now knowing it's not a simple review. I have autism and social anxiety and this is going to affect my mental health so badly 

Hello.  What did the message on your journal actually say?  Some people are getting a letter on their journal telling them that they are being "referred" and then they get the UC50 form in the post just a few days later.  Other people are getting just a strange message on their journal asking for permission to contact the GP.  I got the latter.  Not heard a thing from them since -- no referral letter, no UC50 form.  

catmumma95

StillIRise said:

catmumma95 said:

Thank you for the replies.
Dreading it now knowing it's not a simple review. I have autism and social anxiety and this is going to affect my mental health so badly 

Hello.  What did the message on your journal actually say?  Some people are getting a letter on their journal telling them that they are being "referred" and then they get the UC50 form in the post just a few days later.  Other people are getting just a strange message on their journal asking for permission to contact the GP.  I got the latter.  Not heard a thing from them since -- no referral letter, no UC50 form.  

Hi,

I got the same as you, they asked for my consent to 'contact my GP in order to assess my health condition' out of the blue, no explanation why. I asked why they needed to do that and got a reply today (1 month later!) explaining themselves better that I was due a review. I've given my consent now and they said I will get a questionnaire, which I assume will be the UC50 form.

How long ago did you get your journal message? Hope they will leave me alone but probably wishful thinking

poppy123456

catmumma95 said:

StillIRise said:

catmumma95 said:

Thank you for the replies.
Dreading it now knowing it's not a simple review. I have autism and social anxiety and this is going to affect my mental health so badly 

Hello.  What did the message on your journal actually say?  Some people are getting a letter on their journal telling them that they are being "referred" and then they get the UC50 form in the post just a few days later.  Other people are getting just a strange message on their journal asking for permission to contact the GP.  I got the latter.  Not heard a thing from them since -- no referral letter, no UC50 form.  

Hi,

I got the same as you, they asked for my consent to 'contact my GP in order to assess my health condition' out of the blue, no explanation why. I asked why they needed to do that and got a reply today (1 month later!) explaining themselves better that I was due a review. I've given my consent now and they said I will get a questionnaire, which I assume will be the UC50 form.

How long ago did you get your journal message? Hope they will leave me alone but probably wishful thinking

You won't receive the UC50 form until a referral has been made. Once this is done you will receive a letter on your journal telling you that you're being referred. You will then receive the form within the next week.

catmumma95

poppy123456 said:

catmumma95 said:

StillIRise said:

catmumma95 said:

Thank you for the replies.
Dreading it now knowing it's not a simple review. I have autism and social anxiety and this is going to affect my mental health so badly 

Hello.  What did the message on your journal actually say?  Some people are getting a letter on their journal telling them that they are being "referred" and then they get the UC50 form in the post just a few days later.  Other people are getting just a strange message on their journal asking for permission to contact the GP.  I got the latter.  Not heard a thing from them since -- no referral letter, no UC50 form.  

Hi,

I got the same as you, they asked for my consent to 'contact my GP in order to assess my health condition' out of the blue, no explanation why. I asked why they needed to do that and got a reply today (1 month later!) explaining themselves better that I was due a review. I've given my consent now and they said I will get a questionnaire, which I assume will be the UC50 form.

How long ago did you get your journal message? Hope they will leave me alone but probably wishful thinking

You won't receive the UC50 form until a referral has been made. Once this is done you will receive a letter on your journal telling you that you're being referred. You will then receive the form within the next week.

Thank you, coincidentally I have just logged into my account to see the letter attached. I won't be able to cope with this.

trb10

You can cope with it and you will!  We're all here to help where we can.

catmumma95

So I guess everything is going to be as I dreaded....thanks for all the replies that explained what will happen. Unfortunately it has made me very upset and stressed, kind of wish I hadn't posted to be honest but I still appreciate knowing. Not sure how I will cope between now and whenever this assessment will be....how will I ever be able to relax, literally in tears typing this 

trb10

Oh that's bad, sorry to hear that.  I know it's so easy to say but you can't alter what is going to happen so just go with the flow and don't worry about something that might not even happen.

poppy123456

catmumma95 said:

So I guess everything is going to be as I dreaded....thanks for all the replies that explained what will happen. Unfortunately it has made me very upset and stressed, kind of wish I hadn't posted to be honest but I still appreciate knowing. Not sure how I will cope between now and whenever this assessment will be....how will I ever be able to relax, literally in tears typing this 

You would have been referred anyway, even if you hadn't posted to ask. I'm sorry it's making you feel this way but sadly reviews happen to the majority of people claiming these sort of benefits.

Remember the more information you give them the less chance you have of needing an actual assessment. Just don't tell them your life story and keep it relevant.

Adding a couple of real world incidents of exactly what happened the last time you attempted each activity that applie you will also help. Make sure you include detailed information such as where you were, what exactly happened, did anyone see it and what the consequences were. This was what the majority of my form was about when i did my last review in 2020 (ESA) i had a paper based assessment at that time.  Use extra sheets of paper too because there's never enough of room (in my opinion) in the form.

Don't forget to include your name and NI number on everything you send.

When i've done all mine in the past i usually do just a little each day and then this takes the stress off doing it all in one day. I have a desktop computer so i usually use the online form and type in that and print it off once i'm done. If you have access to a computer you can see the form here. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uc50-form-universal-credit-capability-for-work-questionnaire

Any supporting evidence you have should be sent with the form. Some people also find it helpful to ask those that know them well to write a supporting letter.

There's also a guide here that may help you. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/employment-and-support-allowance/help-with-your-esa-claim/fill-in-form-esa/

catmumma95

trb10 said:

Oh that's bad, sorry to hear that.  I know it's so easy to say but you can't alter what is going to happen so just go with the flow and don't worry about something that might not even happen.

Thank you for your kind words, I appreciate it 

catmumma95

poppy123456 said:

catmumma95 said:

So I guess everything is going to be as I dreaded....thanks for all the replies that explained what will happen. Unfortunately it has made me very upset and stressed, kind of wish I hadn't posted to be honest but I still appreciate knowing. Not sure how I will cope between now and whenever this assessment will be....how will I ever be able to relax, literally in tears typing this 

You would have been referred anyway, even if you hadn't posted to ask. I'm sorry it's making you feel this way but sadly reviews happen to the majority of people claiming these sort of benefits.

Remember the more information you give them the less chance you have of needing an actual assessment. Just don't tell them your life story and keep it relevant.

Adding a couple of real world incidents of exactly what happened the last time you attempted each activity that applie you will also help. Make sure you include detailed information such as where you were, what exactly happened, did anyone see it and what the consequences were. This was what the majority of my form was about when i did my last review in 2020 (ESA) i had a paper based assessment at that time.  Use extra sheets of paper too because there's never enough of room (in my opinion) in the form.

Don't forget to include your name and NI number on everything you send.

When i've done all mine in the past i usually do just a little each day and then this takes the stress off doing it all in one day. I have a desktop computer so i usually use the online form and type in that and print it off once i'm done. If you have access to a computer you can see the form here. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uc50-form-universal-credit-capability-for-work-questionnaire

Any supporting evidence you have should be sent with the form. Some people also find it helpful to ask those that know them well to write a supporting letter.

There's also a guide here that may help you. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/employment-and-support-allowance/help-with-your-esa-claim/fill-in-form-esa/

Thank you for this helpful information and advice, will definitely refer to this when I get the dreaded letter.

catmumma95

paries1 said:

catmumma95 said:

poppy123456 said:

catmumma95 said:

StillIRise said:

catmumma95 said:

Thank you for the replies.
Dreading it now knowing it's not a simple review. I have autism and social anxiety and this is going to affect my mental health so badly 

Hello.  What did the message on your journal actually say?  Some people are getting a letter on their journal telling them that they are being "referred" and then they get the UC50 form in the post just a few days later.  Other people are getting just a strange message on their journal asking for permission to contact the GP.  I got the latter.  Not heard a thing from them since -- no referral letter, no UC50 form.  

Hi,

I got the same as you, they asked for my consent to 'contact my GP in order to assess my health condition' out of the blue, no explanation why. I asked why they needed to do that and got a reply today (1 month later!) explaining themselves better that I was due a review. I've given my consent now and they said I will get a questionnaire, which I assume will be the UC50 form.

How long ago did you get your journal message? Hope they will leave me alone but probably wishful thinking

You won't receive the UC50 form until a referral has been made. Once this is done you will receive a letter on your journal telling you that you're being referred. You will then receive the form within the next week.

Thank you, coincidentally I have just logged into my account to see the letter attached. I won't be able to cope with this.

I know exactly how you feel , I’ve also received this dreaded journal message to contact my GP and I’m pretty sure I’ll be receiving the referral letter any day now. It’s really stressful I know . 

So sorry you are going through this too, yes it's so awful. Hoping we will both get the outcome we hope for!