Lcwra help please.

stepheny12

Hi me and my partner are migrating over from tax credits, currently only claiming child tax credits and carers allowance as we have both been caring for our disabled child & my partner is now unwell we don’t claim income support or anything else atall.
I’m needing some help with how we go about applying or reporting that he’s not fit for work? Our doctors only will do a fit note for now not in advance but will backdate a note. Do I have to keep sending in fit notes during the 5 weeks wait time while the application for UC is being processed? Thank you for any help in advance.

poppy123456

When you claim UC your partner will need to make sure they report their health condition and provide a fit note within 7 days of that. They will need to continue to provide fit notes without any gaps until a decision is made on the work capability assessment and this can be anything up to about 6 months.

The 5 weeks you're referring to is the wait for your first UC payment from the date you submit your claim.

Usually from day 29 of their claim (can be later) they will be referred for the WCA, once this done they will receive a letter on their journal saying there have been referred. A few days later they will receive the UC50 form in the post.

They will be treated as a job seeker until a decision is made on the WCA. A work coach has discretion to turn off or reduce commitments, some do and others don't.

As a carer you will need to make sure you report this when you claim. Your UC will include the carers element. Carers allowance will continue as normal but be deducted in full from any UC entitlement. As a carer you will have no work commitments .

There's a disability guide here that may help.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-if-you-have-a-disability-or-health-condition-quick-guide/universal-credit-if-you-have-a-disability-or-health-condition#:~:text=When%20you%20make%20a%20claim,Work%20Capability%20Assessment%20(%20WCA%20).

stepheny12

Hi looking for a little more advice my partners waiting on a fit note from the doctors but they have said has to be approved by the doctor who’s been dealing with his condition and could take weeks. What will happen if when applying I report his health condition but don’t have the fit note within 7 days of that? Thanks

poppy123456

Not providing the fit note within 7 days of reporting the health condition will delay when the extra money is paid from if found to have LCWRA. Surely there's another GP that can provide the fit note and not just the GP that's been dealing with his health conditions?

stepheny12

Thank you after complaining to the surgery we have finally received a 3 months fit note and have went ahead and applied for uc providing them with the fit note details. Now on my partners to do list it’s showing a to do list of tell us about your work search I’m not sure how to answer these questions as he’s not able to work? Really confused with it all appreciate any helps thanks

poppy123456

Glad you got the fit note. For your partner, when claiming UC you're treated as a job seeker until a decision is made on your work capability assessment. Now your partner has provided that fit note their work coach has discretion to either turn off or reduce commiments, some do and others don't.

As you're a carer claiming carers allowance/carers element then you will have no commitments.

stepheny12

thank you should he go ahead and fill in that section on the to do list? It does also say on his to do list that they will call him. I just wasn’t sure wether or not to fill that section in as it’s contradicting the sick line 😕 Is it possible to fill it out in a way that it shows he’s unable to do a job right now? Thanks again

stepheny12

Sorry for another comment just really worrying about it all. On the “tell us about your work search” does he answer the questions as if he’s not in ill health? Just don’t want to say he can do such n such a job when in reality he can’t? Also am I right to say that for the period of time his sick note is for he doesn’t have to work search? Thanks again for all your help

poppy123456

He needs to speak to his work coach about his commiments. As I advised, when claiming UC you're treated as a job seeker until a decision is made on the work capability assessment. His work coach has discretion to either turn off or reduce commiments, some do and others don't.