Awarded LCWRA and rewarded by LOSING almost £200 a month from UC

malvinmulch

So covered under transitional protection, wife and I care for each other, all good there, we both got carers element and payments steady. Persuaded to apply for LCWRA and both of us were classified as coming under it (though aware we would only get one element).

Login to check our payment to make sure its been applied and find that we have been docked almost £200 a month, they added the LCWRA, removed it from transitional protection and then also removed one carers element.

So appears by trying to tick all the boxes we have been well and truly played for fools by the DWP as at no point was it mentioned that this was likely to happen. If the banks tried this it would be a media scandal but since its the DWP, well that's all fine and rosy it seems…

malvinmulch

So frankly right now i'm spitting feathers and more than a little stressed at knowing we are down £50 a week…

really not what I need when dealing with severe anxiety and C-PTSD, really don't need this, can feel my anxiety level going ballistic.

poppy123456

Yes, the same person can't receive both carers element and LCWRA element at the same time. In this case the higher element will be paid, which is the LCWRA element.

May I ask how much your TP was before the LCWRA element was included? The reason I'm asking is because it doesn't really make sense that you're now £200/month worse off. You shouldn't be worse off, at worst you would be no better off.

malvinmulch

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/899221#Comment_899221

Thats what I said to them, but as yet they haven't responded to that point

£745.58 is what it was

This month is

Limited capability for work and work-related activity

£416.19

Transitional protection

£329.39

Your transitional protection payments have been decreased.

This is because you are now being paid more Universal Credit.

HOWEVER they have taken off 1 carers element on top of this rather than lcwra - carers element and then offsetting that against the transitional payment. its thrown me into a rather foul mood as this feels more than a tad orwellian or kafkaesque

poppy123456

I agree with you and that doesn't sound correct. What they should have done was taken the difference from carers element and LCWRA and the reduce your TP by that amount.

For instance.. £416.19 - £198.31 = £217.88 and your TP should have reduced by that amount. That would make your TP £527.70 instead of the higher amount you were previously receiving.

I would immediately request the Mandatory Reconsideration. (MR) On the decision to reduce your TP by the full amount of LCWRA element. You can do this on your journal. A case manager will then see it and pass it onto a decision maker.

I would appreciate it if you come back with an update once a decision is made on that, if you can please.

malvinmulch

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/899239#Comment_899239

Poppy

Thank you for this, I've noted this in my journal and requested a mandatory reconsideration.

Noidea19

I have yet to have my first UC payment . I will be entitled to TP and will be entitled to carers element. spoke with citizens advice who told me prior to claiming and was told if I claim Lwcra after my first Uc payment due to it being a change I’d lose TP.

Have you already received any payment or is this the first payment you will get.

I maybe totally wrong as Uc is a minefield but it kinda spells out to me what citizens advice told me. Hoping in your case that’s not the issue. Hope you get some answers.

poppy123456

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/899320#Comment_899320

That's not correct in this case because the TP was more than £700/month and the difference between carers element and LCWRA element was not as much as what they reduced their TP by. Please see my detailed calculation above.

In some cases yes the addition of the LCWRA element can erode TP completely but it will depend on how much the TP is. Same applies to any additional elements you become entitled to after the first assessment period.

Noidea19

Got it, just re read it all and what you say now makes sense.

I chose my user name for a reason 🤣.

It also nice to know a change won’t cancel any Tp which is what citizens advice led me to believe or maybe it’s how I took it.

Either way knowledge is power and I’m learning as I go.
fingers crossed they get the mess sorted out

poppy123456

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/899343#Comment_899343

Haha, I just realised what your username is 😂

Well, a change can cancel the TP, (although not in this case, as I advised) such as moving from a joint to single or single to joint claim, or where a claimant has received earnings of more than the Administrative earnings Threshold (AET) in the first assessment period and then drops below it for the next 3 assessment periods.

UC is complicated and does sometimes give me a big headache. 😑😂

malvinmulch

Update: met with deafening silence from UC thus far, which is unusual as usually they answer either at start or end of day at a minimum and often more frequently. Which makes me wonder if they are ignoring it and trying to run out a clock or just hoping i give up and go away - the us insurer playbook of delay, deny, defend at work?