A little help needed regarding understanding LCWRA

SussexMumof2

Hi. A brief overviewof my circumstances:

I first reported a health change in my UC journal in February 2021. By April 2021, I was assessed as LCW. I started a part time job in May 2022. 10th June 2024 I had a WCA via phone. A few days later I was notified as being found to have LCWRA as the outcome of my assessment.

Following this, I have some questions that I hope someone may be able to help with.

1. When am I likely to receive LCWRA payment and is it likely to be backdated at all?
2. I am currently on a 16hr contract, my manager regularly makes me work upto 20hrs and wants to have me working 24hrs over summer. I am already struggling with this and have been frequently getting unwell, resulting in time off and management being unhappy with me for this. Should I apply for flexible working and inform work that I want to stick to my working hours, given that due to my health I've been assessed as LCWRA?

Many thanks for any help or advice.

poppy123456

If the WCA was started by UC the extra money will be from the assessment period in which the decision was made.

If you reported changes to your health condition on your journal and provided fit notes then it will be from the assessment period in which you reported those changes.

There's no harm in speaking to your employer about your hours. Your LCWRA award is irrelevant for your employer though unfortunately.

SussexMumof2

Thank you. I guess I'll have to wait and see really as it is difficult to work out whe they will pay from. I submitted the change to my health in Feb 2021, and provided fit notes from then until April 2021 when I was deemed LCW. No longer had to provide fit notes. Then they decided to do a WCA on me on 10th June, by 13th they came back with a decision of LCWRA.

poppy123456

Your first WCA decision is irrelevant here. For your 2nd WCA when they referred you, did you report changes to your health condition, which prompted them to refer you and then you received the form in the post? or did they just refer you?

It does seem like it was UC that started this review so it will be from when the decision was made. What date do you usually receive your money each month?

SussexMumof2

I believe they just referred me themselves, I hadn't updated my health since 2021, I've simply been trying to manage my conditions as best I can.

I am usually paid on 24th of each month.

poppy123456

Thank you. That means you should receive the extra money in your next payment on 24th June. Please also be aware that they very often get this wrong and they may tell you that there's a waiting period before it can be paid. This isn't correct for you because you already had LCW so the waiting period doesn't apply.

SussexMumof2

Thank you for the information, I appreciate it