Hi, my name is Burrito!

Burrito
Burrito Community member Posts: 2 Listener
edited September 25 in Universal Credit (UC)

Hi,

I have an enquiry about lcwra. I first provided a fit note on may 31st. My assessment period runs 25th-24th of the month. I'm usually paid on the 30th of each month. I was awarded lcwra some time last week. I am somewhat aware of the 3 month relevant waiting period. However, should I not expect my lcwra element to be added onto my payment this month?

This month's payment is for the assessment period running from 25th August - 24th September. My first evidence was provided during the assessment period of 25th May - 24th June (1 month), then we had 25th June - 24th July (2 months), 25th July - 24th August (3 months). This month's payment is for assessment period 25th August - 24th September (4 months). Why am I not entitled to any lcwra payment this month? Not even a pro rata payment. It doesn't make sense to me and seems to be extremely unfair

Comments

  • Albus_Scope
    Albus_Scope Posts: 7,182 Online Community Coordinator

    Hey there @Burrito and welcome to the community. 😊

    Unless I'm mistaken, you should receive the LCWRA component on the 4th payment cycle, so I'm unsure what's happened there. Have you left a note on your journal asking why? Hopefully one of our amazing community will be able to give you a definite answer soon.

  • Kimmy87
    Kimmy87 Community member Posts: 619 Empowering

    UC don't do pro rata payments.

    It might be there wasn't enough processing time for the LCWRA element to be added on.

    As Albus advised, put a note on your journal, under payments, and ask why the LCWRA element hasn't been added, now that the 3 month waiting time has passed.

  • Burrito
    Burrito Community member Posts: 2 Listener

    Yeah I'm not sure what's happened here either. The only thing I can think is that the first month isn't counted as a waiting period because it's 6 days into an assessment period. But that seems really unfair to just completely discount 23 days of an assessment period. I also know that my upload of a fit note was delayed on the doctor's end so they're delays could have prevented this. Also, the letter I received for the award of lcwra says 3 months, not 3 assessment periods. Furthermore, nobody has called me to explain the decision and how it will affect me and my payments going forward. The letter is vague and give no specificities. This seems so disorganised and I'm left feeling like a sub class citizen who doesn't matter as much due to the lack of communication

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 59,717 Championing

    The waiting period is 3 FULL assessment periods. Part assessment periods do not count.

    If you reported your health condition at the start of assessment 25th May to 24th June and provided your fit note within 7 days then it starts from that month. If you didn’t then it will start from June/July assessment period.

    Which would mean your waiting period will be June to Sept… LCWRA starts from 25th Sept to 24th Oct and first payment will be 30th Oct.

    Please also note that it’s the date you provided your first fit note that counts and not the date on it.