Confused about LCWRA

purplexed

Hi everyone.
Apologies for adding to the LCWRA messages. I've tried to work out dates by reading messages but I'm so confused.

I handed in a fit note of my conditions on Feb 19th 2023 which waa dated to May 8th 2023.
I was assessed and awarded LCWRA on May 3rd 2023.

I have left messages on my UC journal but no one really replies properly .
I  am in severe financial hardship, selling my items for food.
Today I called DWP and the lovely gentleman was taken aback and said my LCWRA element hadn't been added to my UC.
He said I should have got it in June, I mentioned the 3 month AP and he said no no, I should have got it in June.
He left a message on my UC journal and someone eventually called me.
I was then told it HAD been added to my UC and I wasn't owed any until August and it wouldn't get back dated. And the assessment period started from 31st March.

I have neurological conditions which arent going to get better, hopefully more manageable , but I've been privately told the 3 months AP is a 'load  of twaddle' and I will get backdated as my fit note was handed on 19th Feb.
My UC is low and I can pay rent and buy 2 weeks of food when it comes on the 12th July, but I'm very nervous I can't pay bills.

Thank you for taking the time to read my long message.

calcotti

I infer your UC is paid on 12th of the month.
Your UC month is therefore 6th to 5th.
You reported your health condition on 19th Feb.
The three month wait goes to 19th May.
The LCWRA extra is payable for the following month which is 6th June to 5th July. 

The first LCWRA should be payable on 12th July.
Have you had the statement for 6th June to 5th July. If is isn’t included post a payment query on your journal.

purplexed

Thank you Calcotti for taking the time to read and respond.

After i called the DWP and  spoke to the gentleman, he left a message on my UC Journal.  Which led to an advisor calling me from my local office.
She told me it would be August as it was March 31st the decision was made from.

I will leave a message on my journal.
I did ask shouldn't it be July 12th as my fit note was on Feb 19th, she said no as it was decided from March 31st.

Thank you, much appreciated - you all do such good work here 😊

calcotti

If you reported your health condition on 19th Feb they are wrong to take the decision from 31st March.

DayDreamBeliever

Hi @purplexed. So you are correct that there is a 3 month waiting period, more specifically a 3 full assessment period waiting time, unless you meet some specific criteria to be able to skip the waiting period (like being terminally ill for example). So your first payment of the LCWRA element should be in the 4th full assessment period after handing in your first fit note. 

So what are your assessment period dates?

poppy123456

It amazes me just how often they get this wrong. It's about time they actually knew their own rules.

DayDreamBeliever

Agreed Poppy, its unbelievable how often the DWP get their own rules wrong. Its shocking

calcotti

DayDreamBeliever said:

Hi @purplexed. So you are correct that there is a 3 month waiting period, more specifically a 3 full assessment period waiting time, unless you meet some specific criteria to be able to skip the waiting period (like being terminally ill for example). So your first payment of the LCWRA element should be in the 4th full assessment period after handing in your first fit note. 

So what are your assessment period dates?

We have already covered this in the previous replies. The LCWRA should be paid on 12th July.

purplexed

DayDreamBeliever said:

Hi @purplexed. So you are correct that there is a 3 month waiting period, more specifically a 3 full assessment period waiting time, unless you meet some specific criteria to be able to skip the waiting period (like being terminally ill for example). So your first payment of the LCWRA element should be in the 4th full assessment period after handing in your first fit note. 

So what are your assessment period dates?

Thank you for reading and replying.

I handed in my fit note 19th Feb , it stated I wasnt fit for work.
I was assessed on 25th April and awarded LCWRA on May 3rd.
My UC payment date is 12th of each month.
My local advisor rang me earlier and stated the guy I spoke to at DWP was wrong and my payment for 1 month only would be on August 12th with no back payment.
DWP however said I should have received a payment in June and I will get it backdated .
I don't know how you guys do it with all these dates and numbers! You're amazing!

DayDreamBeliever

calcotti said:

DayDreamBeliever said:

Hi @purplexed. So you are correct that there is a 3 month waiting period, more specifically a 3 full assessment period waiting time, unless you meet some specific criteria to be able to skip the waiting period (like being terminally ill for example). So your first payment of the LCWRA element should be in the 4th full assessment period after handing in your first fit note. 

So what are your assessment period dates?

We have already covered this in the previous replies. The LCWRA should be paid on 12th July.

Yes I see that now. It took me a while to type my response as I got a phone call and there were no replies when I started typing and they didn't refresh until after I sent it so I didn't see them 

purplexed

poppy123456 said:

It amazes me just how often they get this wrong. It's about time they actually knew their own rules.

Some of the people at DWP are amazing over the 'phone, so patient and understanding,  and gave good info -  but my local office don't seem to respond or know, I don't even have a work coach.
I even contacted some outer agencies myself for getting support going back into work and they all said I'm doing the advisors job for them!

purplexed

calcotti said:

I infer your UC is paid on 12th of the month.
Your UC month is therefore 6th to 5th.
You reported your health condition on 19th Feb.
The three month wait goes to 19th May.
The LCWRA extra is payable for the following month which is 6th June to 5th July. 

The first LCWRA should be payable on 12th July.
Have you had the statement for 6th June to 5th July. If is isn’t included post a payment query on your journal.

I've had my statement and its not included, that is why I called DWP today.
And my local advisor said its August.

purplexed

DayDreamBeliever said:

calcotti said:

DayDreamBeliever said:

Hi @purplexed. So you are correct that there is a 3 month waiting period, more specifically a 3 full assessment period waiting time, unless you meet some specific criteria to be able to skip the waiting period (like being terminally ill for example). So your first payment of the LCWRA element should be in the 4th full assessment period after handing in your first fit note. 

So what are your assessment period dates?

We have already covered this in the previous replies. The LCWRA should be paid on 12th July.

Yes I see that now. It took me a while to type my response as I got a phone call and there were no replies when I started typing and they didn't refresh until after I sent it so I didn't see them 

I appreciate everyone taking the time, thank you so much

calcotti

DayDreamBeliever said:

Yes I see that now. It took me a while to type my response as I got a phone call and there were no replies when I started typing and they didn't refresh until after I sent it so I didn't see them 

Often happens to me! Understandingly.

poppy123456

purplexed said:

poppy123456 said:

It amazes me just how often they get this wrong. It's about time they actually knew their own rules.

Some of the people at DWP are amazing over the 'phone, so patient and understanding,  and gave good info -  but my local office don't seem to respond or know, I don't even have a work coach.
I even contacted some outer agencies myself for getting support going back into work and they all said I'm doing the advisors job for them!

It's a call centre you're ringing and not DWP itself. They very often give misleading advice because they're not benefits advisors. One of the worst places to ring for such advice is the call centres.

purplexed

Well, update!

Apparently as my fit note was uploaded on the 31st March thats when they're assessing it from.
Despite the fact my fit note was backdated from the 19th February.
I had moved areas and my old GP of 20yrs deregistered me which  ethically they shouldn't have done, as they promised I could stay until I found a new GP.
NHS Inform had to find me a new GP which took nearly a month as my new area is restricted for new patients for GPs.
My last employer had to wait also for my fit note due to this so I could get sick pay.
So I have my physical copy of my fit note, and I did write the dates when I uploaded my fit note also to my journal.
So I guess I'm in the wrong


Edit - I meant I didn't have a  GP to go to get a fit note for nearly a month.  I didn't realise you could report a fit note on your journal and not actually have a physical one.

poppy123456

Yes they don't usually accept a backdated fit note, although when you report it, it's usually accepted at that time. When it comes to your waiting period, they will go from the actual date you reported it and not the date on the fit note itself.

Agreed they don't always ask you to send the fit note and just to put the details of the fit note onto your journal. However, doing this without actually having the fit note is a risk because there's always a chance they will ask to see it.

Are you also aware that nurses, occupational therapists, pharmacists and physiotherapists can also write fit notes now. This changed in July 2022. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/who-can-issue-fit-notes-guidance-for-healthcare-professionals-and-their-employers/who-can-issue-fit-notes-guidance-for-healthcare-professionals-and-their-employers

You can try to explain to them what actually happened and you couldn't get a fit note. Also tell them that you didn't know at the time that nurses etc can now also provide fit notes.

purplexed

Hi, 
Thanks for response.
I had such  a frantic time getting a fit note, I asked my psychiatrist office, my local pharmacies , they all said they couldn't do a fit note.
I was unaware a nurse could write one, thank you for that info.

Yes, they accepted my backdated fit note at the time as I was getting fit note expiry warnings. And I was also left without a mental health team/psychiatrist and was unable to get my meds.
All in all that month was a horrendous time for me.

And I've been left with no money for 2 months as DWP took my April to May Payslip as my June's income.
I've had to sell my items to survive and I have no fight left in me 


I was going to start a new job as I was desperate but mentally I was in no position. 
I have taken steps to get support going back into work. 
I've researched and found charities to help me. 

I was just in disbelief that DWP assessed me as not fit for work then left me to it with no further communication or support at a time when I was at my worst .
And surely one area's mental health team should refer you to a new one to ensure you dont get withdrawal symptoms from having no medications for your conditions.
But it could be worse!

L_Volunteer

It sounds like you had a really difficult time knowing who could do a fit note for you @purplexed, especially with all those professionals saying no but not saying who could. I am only hearing how this was compounded by a lack of support and access to money and medication 

How are you feeling about everything at the moment? I notice that, although you have been through this really challenging time, there are also some positives to be found. For example, they accepted your backdated fit note and you have researched and found charities to help you.

Hannah_Alumni

@purplexed I am so sorry you had to sell items. I hope they weren't sentimental? I'm happy to hear you have found support from some charities. Please remember to reach out if we can help in anyway