Esa & LCWRA

bruno12

Hello, I have been awarded high rate ESA & LCWRA. The lady rang me and said that I am owed from ESA with the amount but not given an amount owed for LCWRA. 

My first fit note was given to UC on the 27th April. Is there anything owed and also do I need to contact anyone to get them to sort it? 

Thankyou  

poppy123456

ESA and UC are 2 separate benefits and ESA will not be able to tell you if anything is owed with UC. 

The ESA will continue to be deducted in full from any UC entitlement but at an increased rate.. £561/month. 

You will be entitled to the LCWRA element of UC from the 4th month after you reported your health condition. Without knowing what date you usually receive your UC payment it’s not possible to tell you exactly when it’s paid from. 

Based on the information you gave it will be either Aug or Sept.

However, once ESA and UC pay what they owe you then you will have an overpayment of UC. This is because ESA and UC don’t communicate with each other. The increase in your ESA means there’s more to deduct each month from your UC. It’s complicated. 

It may take quite a few weeks for UC to recalculate your statements to work out how much you’ve already been paid against what you should have been paid. Once this is done you’ll receive a letter on your journal telling you how much they owe. Eventually they will then contact you to repay what you owe them. 

bruno12

Thankyou for your quick response! 

Wow this is confusing, I applied for ESA as at the time my partners income was too big to get UC. 

Anyhow, I usually get paid on the 9th of every month. Assessment period 3rd to the 2nd. 

Will we go a month without any UC? Yes the lady told me the UV would reduce due to esa. 

Will they take the repayment as all one or from benefit? 

poppy123456

Yes, units very confusing! 

Your waiting period for UC is May/June, June/July, July/August… LCWRA starts from AP 3rd Aug to 2nd September and first payment will be 9th September. 

If you didn’t previously have the work allowance then you will also be entitled to that now. This means that a certain amount of earnings from either yourself or your partner will be ignored before the 55% deductions apply. If you claim for help with the rent it will be £379/month, if you don’t it will be £631/month. This will apply from your March/April Assessment period. 

Usually they reduce your future UC payments to repay what you owe. Or you can just keep some money back and pay it all in a lump sum. 

bruno12

Is there anyway I can calculate it? To get a rough idea. 

poppy123456

The exact figures will depend on what amount you’ve already received. (if any) What your maximum UC entitlement is and what earnings were received each assessment period. You will need to know all of that information before you can try to work it out.