LCW

AndrewHall

Hi all,

I have just been awarded LCW.
Please I want to know if I would still be subjected to a benefit cap.
Thanks 

Hannah_Alumni

Hello @AndrewHall

Are you well?

I looked on the GOV website and Universal Credit comes under their "Benefits that are effected by the cap" section. LCW if part of your Universal Credit claim. 

poppy123456

LCW doesn't exclude you from the benefit cap. If you're claiming PIP/DLA/ADP then you would be excluded from the benefit cap.

If you disagree with the WCA decision then you can request the MR. Before doing this you need to look at the descriptors for LCWRA to see if any apply to you. https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/universal-credit-uc/uc-faq/limited-capability-for-work-related-activity

AndrewHall

Thanks,
It is nice to know LCW is not worth the paper it is written on if there is no benefit in it whatsoever. 

poppy123456

The only benefit is that you're not expected to look for work.

Biblioklept

And a work allowance if you are working, plus access to more support back into work.

BUTTTT it's basically a money saving exercise. They've agreed you can't work but won't help you more financially. Them doing away with the LCW payment was awful.

Their new proposals which will essentially see thousands more people in LCW instead of LCWRA (including those they deem substantially at risk of harm by working!!) I couldn't use words strong enough on here to explain my thoughts on it.

AndrewHall

@Biblioklept

I agree. 
The whole system is rigged and there is a lack of common sense. 
If someone is found unable to work, how can they justify that the person can do a work related activity. 
Is there any difference between work and work related activity?

poppy123456

Work related activity means attending appointments to prepare to work in the future. It does not mean looking for work.

I agree that the rules changes for LCW in 2017 were wrong! 

However more than 60% of people are found to have LCWRA which is much higher than I ever thought it would be. 

Biblioklept

I don't think 60% is that high at all. Why do you think it's high? 

I'm still very very concerned about them planning to make those who fall into substantial risk category only have LCW. It's crazy

poppy123456

Biblioklept said:

I don't think 60% is that high at all. Why do you think it's high? 

I said it’s more than 60%. If I remember correctly it’s about 66% but I don’t have time to check at the moment.

I didn’t specifically say it was high. What I said was “it’s higher than I thought it would be” 

bg844

Via the most recent update:

Caseload (number of people on UC health)

at June 2023, 1.8 million people were on UC health compared to 1.4 million a year earlier, of these:

240,00 (13%) had acceptable medical evidence of a restricted ability to work pre-WCA

320,000 (18%) were assessed as limited capability for work (LCW)

1.2 million (69%) were assessed as limited capability for work and work-related activity (LCWRA)

I think 69% is about right for LCWRA, the 1.8 million caseload is obviously quite high (and there are people still on ESA which is separate to this).

AndrewHall

AndrewHall said:

Hi all,

I have just been awarded LCW.
Please I want to know if I would still be subjected to a benefit cap.
Thanks 

Hi all,

I have been awarded LCW and my wife works 15 hrs/week. Does she require to attend work search (or commitment review) interview at the Jobcentre?