WCAs and decisions

rach1991

Hi all, really hoping you can help, im new here and made a account because after some research into my particular questions someone called Poppy123456 comes up a lot so if anyone can point me in the right direction to them as I don't know how to tag etc but even then anyone who can help me make sense of this please, so here I go I guess....

End of October last year 2023 I was sent a WCA questionnaire (I've been LCW decision made Jan 2022) It was sent back the day it was due (I'd ended up in hospital for treatment due to one of my conditions) I explained this in the form as luckily I hadn't sealed it before the hospital stay and added they can look at medical to check too. I didn't hear anything back until July 2024 saying I had a telephone appointment for WCA, they phoned about half hour before the appointment to check I was still available which I was (due to the letter saying it could take 20 mins to a hour sometimes more etc I made sure my daughter was with her dad) they never phoned I phoned UC and on my journal I was told they accepted my reasons...? Huh? Anyways 23rd Sept I had my app, I then had a work focused appointment on 17th October which I was informed that I was LCWRA (which also was on my journal same date 17th) can anyone help me understand what any of this means because they have not given me a straight forward answer and I've phoned them twice since the work focus interview. Will provide more info if I can. Thank you in advance.

poppy123456

LCWRA means you no longer have any commitments to attend appointments or be expected to look for work. You will also receive extra money each month, providing you're not claiming UC with a partner that receives this element on your claim.

If this was a review started by UC then the extra money will be from the assessment period in which the decision was made. No money is owed.

If you reported changes to your health condition that prompted UC to refer you for another WCA then the extra money is paid from the assessment period in which the decision was made. Providing you sent fit notes the whole time, without any gaps.

rach1991

Thank you. Last time I put a sick note in was August 2021 which ended in October 2021 which i believe started the original WCA, I had the reassessment questionnaire come thorough last year so I wasn't sure when my assessment period was. If that makes sense? Tha k you for getting back to me 😊

poppy123456

You're welcome. An assessment period isn't what you think it is. This lasts for 30 days each month and the first day of your assessment period started when you first claimed UC. Seven days after the end of that assessment period is your payment date.

For example, if your payment date is 15th of every month then your assessment periods will be 9th to 8th of every month.

rach1991

Thank you 😊

Higgie5

Hi just quick qeustion i have just had work capability assessment dos the decisionmaker make the same decision as the medical provider from the assessment report?

Kimmy87

The DM usually follows the assessors recommendation, it's possible they can decide differently but quite rare.

Higgie5

thank you Kimmy87