My situation advice please - new to all this

ConfusedEDSlady

Had neck injury and fusion. Been diagnosed FND. Was formerly working full-time. Now ill-health retired. 

My situation:

Applied for New Style ESA, was due to expire October this year but now awarded LWRCA. I also get PIP. 

Husband works f/t and earns £1820 net a month and just given payrise so will go up by £1700 a year.

I recently had a lifechanging surgery which means I cannot move my neck. I haven't updated PIP on this, I will do next week. I wonder if they can increase my payment at all?

I am guessing I am not eligible for UC as my husband earns too much?

Also will the LWRCA ESA continue for a while - I am worried it will still end in October?

Sorry, I find this all confusing. Thanks for any information.  

poppy123456

LCWRA refers to a UC claim, not for ESA. For ESA it's known as Support Group. Your ESA will continue for as long as you remain entitled to it, it's not time limited for 1 year. Your money will also increase to £129.50/week from the 14th week of your claim.

Whether there's any entitlement to UC will depend on your joint circumstances. As it's means tested you will need to claim as a couple. If you have savings/capital of more than £16,000 you're excluded from claiming. You will be entitled to the LCWRA element from the start of your claim.

If you claim UC then your ESA will be deducted in full.

You can use a benefits calculator to check entitlement. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/benefits-calculator

For your PIP claim, it's not about a diagnosis. You shouldn't report changes unless you're 100% sure you can score more points needed for a higher award. Even for a worsening of condition, this doesn't automatically entitle you to more points for a higher award.

If you report changes you will be sent more PIP2 forms to fill in and return and another assessment is most likely. Once a decision is made your award could either stay the same, be decreases, increased or stop completely. You'll also most likely need another assessment because most people have them.

ConfusedEDSlady

poppy123456 said:

LCWRA refers to a UC claim, not for ESA. For ESA it's known as Support Group. Your ESA will continue for as long as you remain entitled to it, it's not time limited for 1 year. Your money will also increase to £129.50/week from the 14th week of your claim.

Whether there's any entitlement to UC will depend on your joint circumstances. As it's means tested you will need to claim as a couple. If you have savings/capital of more than £16,000 you're excluded from claiming. You will be entitled to the LCWRA element from the start of your claim.

If you claim UC then your ESA will be deducted in full.

You can use a benefits calculator to check entitlement. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/benefits-calculator

For your PIP claim, it's not about a diagnosis. You shouldn't report changes unless you're 100% sure you can score more points needed for a higher award. Even for a worsening of condition, this doesn't automatically entitle you to more points for a higher award.

If you report changes you will be sent more PIP2 forms to fill in and return and another assessment is most likely. Once a decision is made your award could either stay the same, be decreases, increased or stop completely. You'll also most likely need another assessment because most people have them.

Great post thank you! Really helpful  

chiarieds

Hi @ConfusedEDSlady - I just wanted to welcome you to the community as, from your user name, I guess you have EDS like myself, & likely also the hypermobile type, as it seems you may have had surgery for craniocervical instability/Chiari 1 Malformation.

As above, do have a look at the PIP descriptors before considering telling the DWP (& your surgery isn't something you have to report), as this will be considered a 'Change of circumstances' involving a new claim, assessment, etc. as poppy mentions. Check the activities/descriptors again here: https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/asset-library/personal-independence-payment-descriptors-and-scores-april-2023.pdf

I also believe you have to have had any potential worsening of your functional ability for 3 months, & you haven't said when you had your surgery.

I can well imagine that this surgery has impacted greatly on your life, but really hope you will do well going forward (& I hope to see you around the forum )

Hannah_Alumni

Hello @ConfusedEDSlady

Welcome to the community! I wanted to check in after you had such a big surgery. Can I ask, do you have support around you?