Disability payment and LCWRA

trillibyte

Hi, I'm currently transitioning from half pay at work (NHS) I'm retiring due to Ill health and have started a claim as a couple. My good lady has just been put into the LCWRA category. We currently receive nothing on our UC account as I currently am over the pay threshold. This will be changing in November when I eventually leave my employment.

Will my good lady get the disability element of £416pm even though we currently get zero on our UC account.

Any thoughts would be lovely as I'm new to all of this ..thankyou

poppy123456

Your partner will be entitled to the LCWRA element of UC from the 4th month after she provided her first fit note.

When it's paid from exactly will depend on what date she provided her first fit note and what date you usually receive your money each month.

LCWRA is part of UC, it's not a benefit on its own.

If you didn't previously have the work allowance before the decision was made on her work capability assessment then you'll also be entitled to that. This means that you or your partner can receive a certain amount of earnings each month 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 of earnings received over those amounts your UC will reduce by 55p. See link for information. They will owe you some money for this if you didn't previously have the work allowance.

https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/work-allowance-universal-credit

You say you're retiring because of your health. Will you be receiving a pension? If so then that pension will be treated as "other income" and reduce your UC £1 for £1.

Have you looked at claiming New style ESA for yourself? Entitlement is based on your NI contributions in the previous 2 tax years. You will need your SSP1 form and a fit note to claim it. It isn't means tested so other income and pensions of up to £85/week are ignored. For every £1/week of pension over that amount the ESA reduces by 50p/week.

See link.

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

If you claim both of those benefit together the ESA is deducted in full from any UC entitlement.

Kimmy87

There is a waiting period of three full assessment periods before LCWRA becomes payable.

Even when this becomes payable, it is calculated as part of your UC entitlement not separately, so if your earnings are still too high your UC would still be 0.

However. Due to the LCWRA award your claim now has a work allowance. This is the amount you can earn before the deductions start taking place.

• If you get help with housing costs through Universal Credit, your Work Allowance is £404 per month.
• If you do not get help with housing costs through Universal Credit, your Work Allowance is £673 per month.

So you may start seeing an entitlement to UC going forwards, the DWP will also look and see if they owe you any money due to the WA coming into effect.

You could always try putting your figures into a benefits calculator

https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators

trillibyte

Thank you all so much, that has made it all a bit clearer x