LCWRA award

jadeyb

Hi I’m not sure what this means? I have serve anxiety and depression does it mean I will be getting extra money a month? and will there be a back payment? and also I’m awaiting a PIP tribunal date will this help with my claim? Many Thank you in advance 

jadeyb

Sorry I have added the letter here 

poppy123456

Yes, it means you will be entitled to extra money from the 4th month after you first reported your health condition/provided your first fit note. This is called the waiting period, it's not paid at all during this period. When it's paid from will depend on the answers to the following questions. 

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

2/ What date do you usually receive your money each month?

3/ Were there any gaps in your fit notes?

You can tell the Tribunal that you've been found to have LCWRA but it doesn't automatically entitle you to PIP. They are two different benefits. 

jadeyb

Brilliant thank you i gave my first fit note on the 22nd of November with no gaps I gave a fit note for each month and I get paid on the 26th of the month 

poppy123456

That means your waiting period is as follows...
Dec/Jan, Jan/Feb, Feb/March... LCWRA starts from assessment period 20th March to 19th April and first payment will be 26th April. No LCWRA element is owed. 

If you or a partner receives earnings each month and you didn't previously have the work allowance then you will be owed some money from this. 

Please also note that my advice assumes you're not claiming UC with a partner that already receives the LCWRA element on your claim. 

LCWRA element is £390.06/month at the moment but it's increasing to £416.19/month when benefits increase from April. 

jadeyb

No I’m completely on my own with 2 children I am in receipt of UC only and my 16yo daughter is registered as my carer 

poppy123456

Then if you were receiving earnings you would have already been entitled to the work allowance. Therefore no money is owed. The decision on your WCA was made very quickly. 

Just to add further, I'm also assuming that this was your first work capability assessment and you didn't previously have LCW from a previous assessment?

jadeyb

No I fell pregnant in 2020 I haven’t worked since when covid first hit I was working as a barmaid covid hit and I fell pregnant and then haven’t returned to work since due being a single mother  having a toddler and then becoming ill 

poppy123456

Was this your first work capability assessment? 

jadeyb

Yes it was 

poppy123456

Just to add more information, if you were affected by the benefit cap then being found to have LCWRA will mean you're now excluded from this. So they may owe you some money for that. The benefit cap will be lifted from assessment period 20th Nov to 19th December. 

jadeyb

I’m not bothered about a back payment although it would be nice I’m just pleased I will finally be getting some help financially 

Albus_Scope

Hey @jadeyb, I just wanted to stop in and say congratulations on the award, that must be a huge relief! Best of luck with your PIP tribunal too.  Tribunals are a lot nicer than the original assessments, so you've nothing to fear there.

jadeyb

@Albus_Scope thank you very much