Question about WCA assessment

stressed76

Morning

Just after some advice currently get carers allowance & carers element after migrating from IS to UC (have TP) & have also have medical issues, have been placed in no work group due to carers allowance but have been told to fill in uc50 & due an assessment shortly but have seen this will make me worse off can i refuse the assessment if i explain that to UC?

Thanks for the advice & sorry if theres any spelling mistakes

stressed76

Also at the time of migration i asked about it been weird already in the no work group so why did i need to do something to see if i couldn't work to be told to make us better off whic i find out now might be totally false

poppy123456

What you've heard is correct. Once the decision is made on your work capability assessment if you're found to have LCWRA then this will mean your carers element will stop because the same person can't receive both elements at the same time.

If your UC also includes any Transitional Protection this will erode when the additional LCWRA element is included. This could mean you'll be about £200/month worse off.

Are you claiming with a partner or as a single person? If a single person then yes you can cancel the assessment process by putting a message onto your journal.

The reason why you were referred is very likely because when you claimed UC you reported your health condition and told them that this affects your ability to work.

stressed76

Got a partner, there the same carer with an assessment pending, can we still tell them nope?

poppy123456

Only one of you would be entitled to the LCWRA element anyway because its only element per claim. Yes, you can try to cancel the assessments.

stressed76

Ok just messaged them on the journal, i have explained contrary to what we were told we will be worse off, that there is evidence on line of this for other people & an upper tribunal case & with the fact we are already in the no work group with been carers can we cancel assessments & carry on how we are already are. Fingers crossed but have seen capita have already requested my medical file

poppy123456

I'd also advise you to ring Capita, I don't know if that will help but it's worth a try. The only issue here now is that the forms have already been returned.

stressed76

I will see what UC says 1st before ringing capita as currently feeling overwhelmed

poppy123456

The only problem is that when you put a message onto your journal, it's usually someone from the service centre that replies and more often than not, they aren't very helpful.

Have you both returned your UC50 forms? Most people have assessments but it is possible to have a paper based assessment. If the assessment report is written and returned to DWP then I'm not sure if it could be stopped at that point.

You wouldn't lose both carers elements, you would lose the one, as well as your Transitional Protection.

It's so frustrating that work coaches haven't got more knowledge than they have because if they did then they could advise that you would be worse off. Sadly, they are not benefits advisors.

stressed76

Are TP is over £700 will we lose it all?

poppy123456

No, your TP will reduce by £416.19/month from the 4th month after you provided your first fit note. If one of you is found to have LCWRA.

You will also lose one of the carers elements which is £198.31/month. Therefore in total you will be worse off by the carers element amount.

stressed76

Ok update, they rang for the assessment today, no one had responded to my journal note in a week so i tried explaining it to assessor & it was agreed to put call down as no longer needed. Rang HAAS helpline & explained as needed to cancel my partners call (which they didnt do trying again later) & the lady on the helpline said we didnt need to have assessment as caring already a job so no point in assessment (not sure if policy or her opinion) anyway new message in journal to UC stating been advised by HAAS we dont need assessment as already a carer. Wonder if we will get a response this time.

stressed76

Also thanks @poppy123456 for your advice

stressed76

Oh FFS just rang HAAS again to cancel my partners appointment to speak to a gent who said completly different information which is that its the DWP that needs to cancel but i explained we were told information from HAAS different to what he said, which he seemed shocked about. So yet another journal entry expaining we are panicking & very concerned & confused we are getting different information **** its madness