I'm in receipt of LCWRA and UC, how will this affect my benefits?

Seb1000

hi my employer has terminated employment at capability 3 meeting as I have been sick from work for 1yr now. I am in receipt of LCWRA & UC benefits& wondering how this will affect my benefits? They said I would receive 12 weeks pay & any holiday entitlement, have worked with them for just over 16years & I am unfit to return to my current job or any other job. I asked about I’ll health retirement at my last meeting with manager & union rep & they both said they would look into this I am 54 but they didn’t get back to me with any information, at stage 3 meeting they said I should have applied for ill health retirement at stage 2 meeting & advised that they didn’t think I would get this, I was advised that I have 3 weeks to appeal & that they would apply now for ill health retirement, I am confused as my employment is now terminated as of 23/08/2024 & when I asked union rep about appeal he answered “there is no appeal”?? I am looking for advice as to what I should do going forward as I am stressing about what I signed on Friday 23/aug & ? If I should have signed anything as I feel I may have been misrepresented at the meeting.

poppy123456

LCWRA is part of UC, it's not a benefit on its own. What you'll receive from your employer will be treated as earnings and affect your UC in the assessment period in which you receive it.

You have the work allowance which means a certain amount of earnings you receive each month is ignored before deductions apply.

If you claim for help with the rent it will be £404/month, if you don't it will be £673/month. For every £1 over those amounts your UC will reduce by 55p. Your UC may reduce to zero in the month you receive that money.

Depending on how much you receive from your employer it could also affect the following months money as well, due to surplus earning.

https://www.turn2us.org.uk/get-support/information-for-your-situation/surplus-earnings-rule#:~:text=Your%20earnings%20from%20previous%20months,the%20next%20monthly%20assessment%20period.

I also notice you didn't mention claiming New style ESA? If you're not claiming ESA I'd advise you to claim this as well. It will be deducted in full from any UC entitlement but it's definitely worth claiming it because it's not means tested like UC is.

To be entitled to payments you need the correct NI contributions in tax years 2021/22 and 2022/23. You can also backdate the claim for a maximum of 3 months. See link.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-employment-and-support-allowance

I can't give any advice about your other issue. I'd advise you to contact ACAS who will hopefully be able to advise you.

https://www.acas.org.uk/contact

Seb1000

hi thanks, yeh I do get ESA & I will call ACAS tomorrow after doctors appointment as I want to discuss what was said at the meeting regarding current ongoing health issues. Thanks for your advice poppy123456

Seb1000

hi pippy123456 I also receive ADP benefit too.

Seb1000

sorry poppy123456 lol

poppy123456

That's good that you're also receiving ESA as the money you receive from your employer will not affect that.

Seb1000

thanks