LCWRA and learning to drive

PeachyAna90

Hello

I've recently been awarded LCWRA on UC (joint claim with my husband/carer) and I've been on PIP for a long while now. I have mobility issues from having mild CP and exhaustion that goes along with it as well as MH issues (anxiety mostly).

I want to learn to drive, I already have a Provisional Licence (got it for ID mostly) but I'm worried that if I learn to drive, pass and have a car (I could get one on motability but I'd rather own my car myself) that the DWP would stop me being on LCWRA because they might think because I can drive I can work.

The main reasons I want to learn to drive are because I would like a small amount of independence so I don't have to rely on public transport so much (I hate buses and I don't trust taxis or uber really) and none of my family or my husbands family are getting younger so I'd like to have the option to see them more often if possible and as I'm getting older there are more funerals happening (sorry to be morbid) and it'd be good if I didn't have to rely on family having to drive me etc.

What should I do?

Kimi87

Driving is absolutely no barrier to receiving LCWRA. Many many people who get LCWRA also drive. The DWP will not decide you are fit for work if you become a driver.

OverlyAnxious

Being able to drive is often used as a cut & paste excuse to prevent a PIP award. But I haven't seen it affect LCWRA/Support Group with regards to work.

If you want to be totally sure then you could check which descriptor entitled you to LCWRA to make sure it won't be contradicting at all.

Personally I don't think there's anything to worry about in this case though.

PeachyAna90

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/957042#Comment_957042

So will it effect my PIP claim? I'm on long term with no end date

Kimi87

No as you've been awarded PIP already. It's sometimes used as a flimsy justification not to award it in the first place.

PeachyAna90

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/957075#Comment_957075

Thank you very much for the clarification