Have I been awarded LCWRA

JamesJS2025

hello I recently had a health assessment and received a message in my journal saying “You have been found to have Limited Capability for Work and Work Related Activities”.
the call was on the 16th November and the journal message was on the 22nd does this mean I will get extra allowance? As my December statement has just gone up and it still says the usual amount. I’ve asked 4 times for some clarification but yet to receive any reply. Sorry if this has been answered it’s just hard to understand without someone on the phone telling me what’s going on. This is what the top of the attached letter said. I’ve I’m not getting anymore money that’s fine I just want to understand if I am or not. Thankyou.

We have decided that you have limited capability for work and work-related activity.
This means:
• we will not ask you to search for work or prepare for work, unless you want to
• you may get extra money each month
• you do not need to provide fit notes
When you get extra money
Payment of extra money usually starts 3 months after you submit your first fit note.
Your award wil include this extra money fi either:
• you are single, or
• you have a partner who does not get extra money for a disability or health condition
You wil not get it fi you have a partner who already gets extra money for a disability or health condition.
What happens next if we owe you money because of this decision, we will let you know when you can get it.

JamesJS2025

I forgot to add that I have been giving in for notes since the beginning of this year.

Kimmy87

LCWRA has a waiting period of three full assessment periods, from the date the first Fit Note was handed in. No money is paid or subsequently owed for that period.

It seems likely that the LCWRA decision was made with insufficient time to add the LCWRA element onto your next statement.

If you can give some more details one of us can do a timeline for you, so you know how many months you are owed.

Assuming you are either single, or your partner doesn't already get LCWRA?

The date you handed in your first Fit Note

Any gaps in Fit notes?

Your assessment period dates.

JamesJS2025

thankyou for replying so fast !
my first was December 2023 when I just checked and they was consistent given in monthly. August/sept/october 2024 I was given a 3 month fit note, November was a 1 and a half month fit note due to run out last week but I no longer have a reminder to produce a new fit note ( I’m guessing that’s because of the decision also I had a meeting in the JC but they cancelled that when the decision was given). All in all I just wasn’t sure if I have even been awarded any extra money. And nor was I even expecting it. Is this the info you needed ? I’m not sure what else to say as I got the assessment letter in September. Filled it out. Sent off a week later. Received a message to say my assessment was to be on the 16th November which happened then on the 22nd I was told the above. Thankyou again. Sorry I’m not good with words if this is confusing.

JamesJS2025

sorry I wrote that wrong the fit note is only due to run out mid December. But the letter says no longer need to produce them.

Kimmy87

I do need the actual date in December that you provided the first Fit Note.

Can you also check that there were no gaps in providing Fit Notes?

Nothing like Fit Note expired then new one provided a few days later?

JamesJS2025

also I’m single. Not claiming anything other than UC and help with rent.

JamesJS2025

so sorry it was actually 29th November 2023 that the first one was given in. No gaps all where given in before the expiry time. Thankyou for replying

Kimmy87

November/December Partial AP *not counted for waiting period*

December/January AP1

January/February AP2

February/March AP3

March/April onwards: LCWRA owed

By my calculation they owe you 8 months LCWRA.

For March/April it was £390.06, then £416.19 from April/May.

Backpay often takes at least several weeks to calculate and pay, a letter of confirmation and the amount owed will be added to your Journal, and sent as a separate payment.

Back paid benefits are excluded from calculating your UC capital for 12 months.

Hopefully that's done before your next statement December 28, if not they'll owe you an additional month.

JamesJS2025

I see. This was unexpected I think I’m just very dumb and don’t understand how the letters are worded on my UC journal. I didn’t even realise that the letter meant I would definitely get the extra money as it says May get. I will be able to afford my rent fully now if this is actually true then that’s such a weight off my shoulders with everything I’ve gone through this year. Thankyou for being patient with me and replying so quickly. Have a great Christmas and New Year

Morgan_Scope

I'm so pleased @Kimmy87 has been able to help and reassure you @JamesJS2025. Please let us know if you have any further questions and have a great Christmas and New Year too.

JamesJS2025

hi, I received my usual UC payment yesterday but no extra element does this mean I wasn’t awarded the extra help ? I’ve not received any journal entry either to say you will be getting extra and my statements still say the usual amount and not added footnote or anything that says I will receive extra. I rang this morning after getting no reply’s on my journal and the lady couldn’t tell me if I’m getting anything extra or not she just didn’t know… this is all so very confusing. I know you said about the 3 month wait it’s just I thought a message would be added or I would have gotten this months. Im thinking I just didn’t get the extra. All so confusing hurts my brain.

JamesJS2025

[Moderator note: Images edited to remove personal information]

JamesJS2025

I’ve posted the letter and this months statement so that I’m more clear if that helps. Thankyou.

Kimmy87

You were found to have LCWRA on 22nd November. With that decision you no longer have a work coach. This means Journal notes take a lot longer to be answered as they go to a service center.

As I previously advised the reason you didn't get any extra in your payment yesterday, is there wasn't enough time for UC to add the LCWRA element to your December payment statement.

Hopefully this will be done in time for your January payment statement at the end of this month.

There hasn't been enough time for UC to process the backpay either. As advised this usually takes at least a few weeks.

You will be entitled to backpay and extra each month as I wrote before. You just need to allow the DWP time to sort everything out.

JamesJS2025

okay I’m sorry for being a nuisance I was just thinking maybe it was the lesser LCW which others get that I read. I’m really bad with words and understanding things I don’t process things properly and I overthink way too much. Thankyou for replying again to me. Have good day.

JamesJS2025

hi does this mean I will get November/Dec element in my January payment ?

Kimmy87

Yes that means you will receive the LCWRA element in your January payment.

They are applying the waiting period from 8th August, which suggests there may have been a gap in providing Fit Notes, as you said you've been handing them in since December 2023?

If you feel this is wrong you can request a Mandatory Reconsideration of the date they have applied the waiting period.

A Decision Maker will then look at the information and make a decision.

You also have the right of appeal if you disagree with that decision.

JamesJS2025

ah I had the July one back dated from. June as I was late giving one in due to some problems. Am I getting November and Decembers though ?

Kimmy87

Yes your January payment, from the November/December assessment period will include the LCWRA element.

As they have applied the waiting period from August, you are not owed any backpay.

Even though there was a break in Fit Notes being provided, you can still ask for a MR around the waiting period and give them the reason the break occurred for them to consider.

If they say no, you've lost nothing other than a few minutes of your time. If they say yes, you'll get backpay.

JamesJS2025

hi as it says assessment from 27th Nov to December 28th does that mean in January I will get 400+ for Nov 400+ for Dec and also £400+ for Jan and my usual amount that I normally get ? I find the wording so confusing. Or do I only get extra element for Jan