LCWRA element

Jam409

Hi there, 

I've seen others post about this so I don't feel I'm the only one confused, but I recieved a e-letter saying I'd been accepted as LCWRA on 18/04/2023. Am I right in assuming this month (August 2023) is when I should recieve a first payment? I get UC on 6th of each month so is it also true LCWRA comes as a separate payment? I've had no word since. 

Thanks, James

poppy123456

LCWRA is part of UC and it’s not a separate payment. It increases your maximum UC entitlement by £390.06/month. 

What date exactly did you report your health condition/send you first fit note? 

Jam409

It was July last year but I'd never even heard of LCWRA back then. I was assessed on the phone early April when the lady told me I might qualify for it... and got the acceptance letter on the 18th. 

poppy123456

Without knowing the exact date it's impossible to tell you exactly when it's paid from.

The 3 month waiting period starts from when you reported your health condition, providing you sent a fit note within 7 days of that and continued to send them without any gaps until a decision was made on your work capability assessment. If there were gaps it can affect when it's paid from.

Were there any gaps in your fit notes? If not then i would have expected you to have started receiving the extra money by now. Based on the information you gave your first payment should have been either Nov or Dec 2022.

Unless you're claiming UC with a partner that already receives the LCWRA element on your claim and then you won't be entitled to the extra money.

Jam409

They most probably pay from December as that's when things kicked off, but like I say, they didn't assess me until April. I never claimed it, I didn't even know it existed. There was also a move from Lincolnshire to Argyll which may have messed things up. No partner. It's her abuse that did this to me.

The good thing is I'm not exactlt struggling financially, just have nothing after bills to do anything with.

Thanks anyway 

poppy123456

It's not easy to advise when you're not answering the questions i asked you. When the assessment took place is irrelevant.

Were there any gaps in your fit notes?

You can look back on your journal to see what date exactly you reported your health condition/sent your first fit note if you don't know when it was.

Jam409

Very first fitnote was 20th July 22. As I say, there has been a moved last August which stifled things a bit 

poppy123456

Your waiting period is Aug to Nov. LCWRA starts from Nov 30th to 29th Dec and first payment would be 6th January.

This is assuming there were no gaps in your fit notes, which you didn't answer that question still. 

If there were no gaps put a message onto your journal under the payment section and ask about the LCWRA element. Tell them that you should have been receiving payment for this now but you haven't received anything.