PIP and LCWRA

MumofTwo

Hello All

My partner was awarded LCWRA for chronic long term lung conditions; COPD, Bronchistasis and an Aspergillosis Ball in the lung cavity (part of his lung was eaten away by pseudomonas bacteria when he had pneumonia).
I believe that he should apply for PIP but he is concerned that if he doesn’t get awarded PIP he may then loose his LCWRA award in the future as they might then think he doesn’t need it.
I appreciate that these two benefits are completely seperate but is he worrying unnecessarily? Or are his concerns justified? He doesn’t know whether to risk applying for PIP or not, if he were forced to work again his health would deteriorate rapidly again as this happened last year.
Many Thanks in advance.

noman

I have the same lung conditions apart from Aspergillosis but i also have emphysema and another one ( can't think of the name ),i receive LCWRA from 2021 and applied for PIP in june 2023 and was awarded PIP in september 2023 for the same conditions that i was awarded LCWRA for!

So yes your partner shpuld apply for PIP and he definitely won't lose his LCWRA if he doesn't get awarded PIP.

poppy123456

PIP and LCWRA are 2 completely different benefits and one doesn’t affect the other in a bad way.

If you’re thinking about any potential changes to benefits in the future then no one knows yet what changes there will be. Until then everything remains as it is now. It would also likely take years before changes are put into place.

MumofTwo

thank you for your reply. He is worried though that In the unlikely event that he doesn’t get PIP that he might then not be awarded LCWRA in the future (when it is reviewed). Not sure I am explaining myself very clearly!!
I think he is over worrying as the two benefits are unrelated but that worrying is stopping him from applying.
He too has emphysema. They are very scary conditions - particularly when it stops him breathing when walking sometimes.

noman

You have explained very clearly to me,although they are separate benefits not being awarded PIP doesn't mean he would lose his LCWRA on review, because of his conditions and how they affect his daily living/mobility etc he should be awarded PIP depending on what happens with the reforms etc.

MumofTwo

@poppy123456

Yes that’s what we were worried about - one affecting the other but you’ve answered my question (Not referring to future changes to the system as I realise that that has yet to be decided).

Thank you for your help.

MumofTwo

thank you Norman 🙏

Hopefully he’ll go ahead and apply. I have found a charity to help us with the forms.