LCWRA

Mokitten

Hi all, if anyone could possibly advise me, much appreciated. I have just been awarded LCWRA today. I have been unable to work due to Stg 3 Cervical Cancer and my claim for UC was initiated June 3rd 2024. At the time, I was very poorly and attending hospital daily for radiotherapy with 3 surgeries booked for end of June. I attended in person for this meeting despite being so unwell. At this meeting, I took all the clinical evidence from Christies Hospital of diagnosis, treatment, appointments etc and was not asked during this meeting to provide a fit note, so assumed my evidence sufficed. It wasn't until Sept that I was asked to provide one, which I did, this was dated 19th Sept and I have provided/been covered to date with no gaps. Having now been awarded LCWRA, I understand that backpay is started 3 months post submission of first fit note. However, given I wasn't asked for fit note during my initial claim meeting in June, (which I would obviously been able to provide), will this date be used regarding any back pay and if not, can I point out that I wasn't asked for one having provided clinical letters etc which seemed to satisfy the person conducting meeting?

poppy123456

You can certainly ask for the waiting period to start from the start of your claim, which would be 3rd June. Tell them that you weren’t advised to provide a fit note. Put a message onto your journal to ask. It will be down to a decision maker to make the final decision.

Having said that, when you claimed if you reported your health condition, it should have prompted an action on your “to do list” to provide a fit note within 7 days. Did that happen?

Mokitten

Thank you Poppy, for responding. This absolutely didn't happen. I have gone through all my journal entries today, just to check. I was just so poorly at the time everything is a bit of a blur to be honest, so I'm glad there is a trail. If you advise it's appropriate, I will mention this to them as I've not had to make a claim before and it's not something I know an awful lot about.

Mokitten

Just to add, I also received UC back pay following my initial claim. I didn't apply for this, it was a decision made following the evidence I produced, I'm assuming. So I received a month's backpay. If this make any difference or adds weight to my claim.

poppy123456

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/971442#Comment_971442

This sounds like they allowed your claim to be backdated for a maximum 1 month due to extreme circumstances of being unable to claim prior to when you actually submitted the claim.

For the waiting period to start from when you submitted the claim just put a message onto your journal under the payment section and tell them you weren't advised to provide a fit note at the start of your claim and didn't know this until X date in September.

Mokitten

Poppy, you're so helpful, thank you very much for your advice.

poppy123456

Thank you. You're very welcome.