Migration from ESA Income Support LCWRA to UC

Alibaliboo
Alibaliboo Online Community Member Posts: 15 Connected

I have recently migrated over from ESA income support LCWRA and now claim UC (just received first payment). They have put me automatically on LCW, I have also have had a ESA reassessment, which is now being processed (awaiting outcome after additional reassessment phonecall), meantime had to get a fit/sick note from my doctor, as advised by my job centre plus. At present I am not fit for work and have my next phone appointment scheduled for February 2025. Hopefully my LCWRA won't change once I hear back from the ESA reassessment. If I go back onto LCWRA, will the extra money get backdated to my first payment, as I'm only getting the LCW payment at present?

I must say all of this process made me feel very anxious and unwell.

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Comments

  • ChrisSCOPEhtfc94
    ChrisSCOPEhtfc94 Online Community Member Posts: 455 Empowering
    edited November 2024

    I’m sorry to hear that you’re another one of these claimants that has had a horrid time with the [uncivil language removed by moderator] at the DWP. I feel for you. I don’t want to swap over fast from income related ESA fast (in the Support Group) because of ALL these negative experiences from claimants online. They can leave me alone until well into the next calendar year, 2025. I am not holding my breath that any issues will be fixed with the horrible, horrible migration process before my turn comes.

  • Alibaliboo
    Alibaliboo Online Community Member Posts: 15 Connected

    It has been a bit haphazard, but some parts not as bad as others. I think some probably have had it easier than others, I guess it depends on who you get on the day, reading your info'. I just think it's unfortunate that the few spoil it for those of us genuine claimant's and therefore you have to prove your case to strangers. It is very stressful, but I guess they have to be thorough in their jobs.

    I'm sure when your time comes, most will have moved over to UC and 'teething issues' will be resolved.

    Take good care x

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 62,805 Championing

    ESA Income support LCWRA? they are all completely different. If you were in the WRAG when you were claiming ESA and you reported changes to your health condition when you claimed UC and are found to have LCWRA then yes you'll receive extra money from the assessment period in which you reported the changes.

    However, you also mention it's a ESA reassessment, was this review from when you claimed ESA and DWP actually started this review? If so then the extra money will be paid from the assessment period in which the decision was made.

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 62,805 Championing

    Imbeciles? that's not nice, sorry. I know you have your thoughts and you're entitled to that. BUT many people claim UC without any issues at all. Remember you mostly only read the bad stories, naturally.

  • Alibaliboo
    Alibaliboo Online Community Member Posts: 15 Connected

    Sorry my head's in such a spin, I meant income-related ESA. I had a reassessment form sent, which I completed last December and, they have only recently given me an additional phone assessment to check everything I had submitted on the form, I believe they had a huge backlog and hence in has coincided which my migration.

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 62,805 Championing

    Thank you. If this was a review started by ESA last December and you're found to have LCWRA then the extra money will be paid from the assessment period in which the decision is made. You will not be owed any money.

  • ChrisSCOPEhtfc94
    ChrisSCOPEhtfc94 Online Community Member Posts: 455 Empowering
    edited November 2024

    The website benefitsandwork.co.uk. The comment sections below the articles on their site, there are many negative comments. I don’t think the negative experiences can be ignored just like that. These negative experiences are happening right now, they do need to be brought up. I can’t help my extreme negativity, hence why I don’t want to move across fast. If they give me a hard time when I’m moving across they’ll be messing around with the wrong person, I will fight tooth and nail until my claim is absolutely sorted, every aspect of it.

    It’s okay the DWP knowing about the issues, they need to be fixed. No fit notes should be requested from ESA claimants, they shouldn’t be trying to make ESA claimants have another WCA. It’s ridiculous.

  • Alibaliboo
    Alibaliboo Online Community Member Posts: 15 Connected

    Oh OK, even though I was on LCWRA already? It's all a bit confusing as I thought if you go onto Universal credit as LCWRA you went over to that. Whether it's because I've had a reassessment, I really don't know, but my health hasn't changed.

  • ChrisSCOPEhtfc94
    ChrisSCOPEhtfc94 Online Community Member Posts: 455 Empowering

    Thank you - and you take good care of yourself as well.

    They need to be resolved in the interest of ALL income-related ESA claimants that have, luckily, not had that letter of doom just yet. Every day that goes by without that coming, it’s an absolute blessing.

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 62,805 Championing

    I"m confused, you said your UC includes LCW, which isn't LCWRA. You also asked about extra money. If you were in the Support Group for ESA then your UC should already include the LCWRA element, which is £416.19/month. Your statement will tell you which one exactly it is. Not only that if you already have LCWRA you shouldn't be needing to attend any appointments. Fit notes are also not needed, regardless of which group you're in.

  • Alibaliboo
    Alibaliboo Online Community Member Posts: 15 Connected

    You're confused, lol, so am I Poppy, as yes, it states on my payment statement that it's LCW, for the standard payment and yet I moved over with LCWRA! Unfortunately it's another thing I need to sort out. I really don't know why this mix up has happened. My doctor and I both found it strange as to why I needed a fit note, but hey ho.

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 62,805 Championing

    Hmm, if you weren't in the Support Group then you won't be entitled to LCWRA element from the start of your UC claim. It will only be LCW, which is the same as the work group for ESA. If your ESA claim started before April 2017 then yes you would be entitled to the extra money for LCW.

    This does make sense because most reviews have been for those that either have LCW or are in the WRAG (work group) for ESA.

    If you can tell me how much your ESA was per week then I can tell you which group you were likely to have been in.

  • Alibaliboo
    Alibaliboo Online Community Member Posts: 15 Connected

    Ah that would be most helpful. I was getting ESA every two weeks for the sum of £415.19

    I looked to see if I had any paperwork, but can't find any for back in 2016 when I first received it.

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 62,805 Championing

    Sorry, more information is needed before I can advise. Was the SDP included in that amount? If so what disability benefit award do you have exactly please? Sorry for all the questions but I can't give the correct advice without more information.

    It will be tomorrow now when I reply because it's late and bed is calling.

  • Alibaliboo
    Alibaliboo Online Community Member Posts: 15 Connected

    I'm pretty sure I was found to have both limited capability for work and limited capability for work-related activity and was placed in the support group. I only ever had phone chats every once in a blue moon from the job centre.

    I will see if I can find any paperwork tomorrow.

    Many thanks for your help today.

    Sleep well x

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 62,805 Championing

    No problem. To be clear, you can't be found to have both. For ESA it's known as either WRAG or Support Group. LCW or LCWRA for UC. With Support Group and LCWRA you wouldn't have needed any appointments, even once in a while. It does seem like you were in the WRAG.

  • Community_Scope
    Community_Scope Posts: 1,546 Empowering

    Hi @ChrisSCOPEhtfc94 I understand moving over can seem scary, but you only hear about things when they go wrong, you don't hear about when things go right, so please be careful of your language as we don't want people getting scared for no reason, most people have no issues at all with the transfer. I've edited your comment to remove the uncivil langue toward the DWP staff.

  • Alibaliboo
    Alibaliboo Online Community Member Posts: 15 Connected

    Hi Poppy

    I found my letter from January 2021

    Is was broken down as follows:-

    Your living expenses £--—

    Extra money because you are severely disabled £-----

    Limited capability for work addition £-----

    Extra money because you are in the Work Related Activity Group £----

    I honestly thought I was in the LCWRA support group, until now, because I was never asked to do any tasks by the job centre plus.

    Thank you so much for your help.

  • Alibaliboo
    Alibaliboo Online Community Member Posts: 15 Connected

    • *Extra money because you are severely disabled:-

  • Alibaliboo
    Alibaliboo Online Community Member Posts: 15 Connected

    So basically I got extra money for the following:-

    . Living expenses.

    . Extra money because severely disabled.

    Then I got the limited capability for work addition:-

    .Extra money because of being in the Work Related Activity Group