UC payment help /LCWRA

berry61

Hello everyone,

We have just received our latest UC payment statement today for a couple , we are home owners no rent to pay no children at home. Both receive pip standard daily living and standard mobility. I have been receiving ssp my first fit note was dated 16th MARCH 2024 with no gaps. I was awarded LCWRA on the 11th June which was date on letter. We both get paid our wages every Friday.

Our UC assessment period runs from 26th to 25th. My wife only works 16 hours per week.

Here is the breakdown for latest statement...

26th May to 25th June

Standard allowance £617.60

Carers £396.62

Transistional protection £466.62

Total £1480.84

My wife's wages £695.56

My wage (ssp) £467.00

Total £1162.56

Deductions £269.26

WTC debt we owed after we transition to UC

£62.87

UC payment for this assesment period is £1148.71

Last assessment period 26th April to 25th May was

Allowance £617.60

Carers £396.62

Trans protection £466.62

My wife's wages £858.58

My ssp wage £583.75

Total £1442.33

Deductions £793.28

UC payment for this assessment period is £687.56

Why have they only deducted £269.26 from this latest assessment when earnings were £1162.56

I did have a conversation with Poppy 123456 after I notified her I had been awarded LCWRA and to thank her for her help during the application process, and she said they will owe me some money due to qualifying for the work allowance on LCWRA . It doesn't say anything about LCWRA at all on the statement and UC said in the LCWRA award letter any money owed would be a separate payment made. Can anyone help to explain this latest UC payment please.

Thanks

poppy123456

The reason for the lower deductions is due to the work allowance. Before the decision was made you weren't entitled to it so all earnings received reduced your UC by 55%. Using your own earnings to verify, last month earnings £1,442.33 x 0.55 = £793.28 deduction.

This months earnings £1,162.56 - £673 (work allowance) = £489.56 x 0.55 = £269.25 deduction.

Yes, they will pay any money owed for the work allowance will be paid as a separate payment and I would expect you to be owed some money for that.

For the LCWRA element there's a waiting period of 3 full assessment periods before this will be applied. Your waiting period will be March/April, April/May, May/June.. LCWRA starts from 26th June to 25th July and it will show on that statement.

Therefore your next statement will show less carers element (£198.31) and the LCWRA element £416.19. However your Transitional Protection will be less because the difference between carers and LCWRA element is £217.88/month so your TP will be reduced by the same amount, which means it will be £248.74 instead of £466.62. This means there will be no difference to your payments even with the extra amount for the LCWRA element.

Having the work allowance applied doesn't reduce your TP.

Biblioklept

Amazing explaination poppy, even I understood it! 😍

The situation sucks though, it's one of my grievances with the transitional payment thing, it's so silly it erodes when you've been awarded something new 😔

berry61

Thanks as usual poppy,

Your understanding of all this is amazing.

Take Care

poppy123456

@Biblioklept thank you, I do try hard to explain as easy as possible. I’m used to that because of my daughter.

Regarding the loss of TP when found to have LCWRA I do know that there’s a high court case ongoing regarding this.

@berry61 Thank you! UC is a minefield and the worst benefit of all to understand. I still have a lot to learn.

Biblioklept

I'm glad someone is challenging it @poppy123456, doesn't seem fair at all!! If you see any outcome to it please share as I'd be so curious to know!!!

poppy123456

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/881571#Comment_881571

Me too! I will certainly post a thread when I do hear something.

berry61

Hi@poppy123456,

Regards your previous reply you gave me in another thread about the work allowance once I had been awarded LCWRA. We don't pay rent or any children living at home.

When my ssp ends at 28 weeks , (I'm currently in week 13), if I don't have any employment therefore no earnings , will my wife's 16 hours p/week earnings be ignored in full without the deductions @55p for UC.

If so would we be entitled to more each assessment period or would the T.P just erode to virtually nothing.

Thanks

poppy123456

That will depend on how much earnings she receives each assessment period. Up to £673/month will be ignored. Earnings can't reduce TP unless you have 3 assessment periods where your UC is reduced to zero due to earnings.

With UC the more earnings you receive the less UC you're entitled to. The less you receive the more you're entitled to up to your maximum entitlement.

berry61

Thanks Poppy,

She works 16 p/w and in a normal 4 week assessment period the total is £695.56

As you say the WA is £673 per month so it will only be around £23 to be taken into account.

Thanks again.

poppy123456

The assessment periods last for 1 month every month, rather than 4 weeks. It really depends on how often she gets paid from her employer. Those that are paid every 4 weeks will have 1 month a year where they are paid twice during an assessment period. Those that are paid fortnightly will have 2 assessment periods twice a year where they are paid twice. During those months your UC entitlement will be even less and in some cases can reduce your UC to zero.

To work out any deductions for earnings you times the amount by 0.55 and then will give you the deduction amount. For example, £23/month will mean a £12.65/month deduction… £23 x 0.55.

berry61

That's great Poppy,

Thanks take care

poppy123456

You're welcome. Thank you and you too.