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WCA vs PIP and timescales

LM28

Hello,

I’ve got my WCA next Friday (after waiting nearly 1.5 years for it due to multiple reasons).

I just wanted some advice and support about how the WCA differs from the PIP assessment? I receive PIP and this is my first WCA. It’s over the phone and wanted to know the types of questions/duration of the call. Also, once I’ve completed the call/assessment, how long is it roughly to then hear back about the outcome?

Any additional information would be much appreciated.

Thank you

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Kimi87

Some advice given on the same question here:

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/981792#Comment_981792

It's not possible to answer how long your call will be, as that depends on the questions you are asked and the length of your answers.

After the appointment, timescales are anything up to 12 weeks for a decision. We can't answer more specifically because every case is different.

You can contact UC and ask for a copy of the assessment report, which why will send you if they themselves have had it back.

LM28

Thank you for your reply- that’s really helpful to know.

If it’s decided that I have LCWA do you know when that will be awarded/back payed as I have been submitting sick notes since October 2023.

Also, do UC get the assessment report relatively soon after the assessment? I’m just thinking when I should chase them once I’ve completed the assessment.

Kimi87

Personally I would give it several working days after the assessment before enquiring about getting a copy.

Some health assessors send the report sooner than others. Occasionally an assessment goes for an audit which would delay DWP receiving it.

Is this your first WCA or do you currently have LCW?

Do you have Transitional Protection on your claim, or claim with a partner who gets LCWRA themselves?

LM28

would I just enquire for the assessment report through my UC journal to my work coach?

This is my first WCA- I’ve been handing in sick notes since October 2023 but it’s taken a while to get them to send me an application form etc to send to them.

I don’t claim with a partner and I don’t know what a transitional protection is? Please could you explain.

Thank you again for your help!

Kimi87

For a WCA report I personally would put the Journal note request via Payment, this option goes to your case manager, often the work coaches give out incorrect advice.

Transitional Protection is an amount paid if you transferred from legacy benefits and would have been worse off.

If you get it it will be listed on your payment statements. And this would affect the amount of backpay you would receive.

The waiting period for LCWRA element to be paid is three full assessment periods after your first Fit Note was handed in.

Any gaps in giving them to UC, any that were backdated etc will affect when the waiting period is started from.

Money from any backpayment would be excluded from being counted as capital for 12 months.

LM28

I’m unsure how to do a journal note via payment? Is that on my online journal? I’ve just gone onto the payment section and can’t see an option to write to anyone on there?

Okay thank you. This is all a little confusing for me as I experience quite a lot of brain fog and overwhelm. I currently only get standard allowance and housing element. I just looked on my journal and my first fit note was actually handed in in March 2023 (this was stated by my work coach too as I asked her to list all my fit notes on my journal and she did).

In reference to your capital comment, what does that mean? Thank you, I really appreciate your help with all of this!

Kimi87

To add a Journal note under Payment, once logged in you click on Journal, click on Add a Journal Entry (in green), then select the payment option.

For UC you are allowed £6000 of money before deductions are made (and there is no entitlement to UC over £16000), this includes everything all bank accounts, cash at home, investments etc. Known as capital.

Any money you receive in a backdated LCWRA payment would be excluded from being counted as part of your capital for one year.

LM28

Ah yes I’ve just seen this option to use the payment option on my journal- thank you!

Ah that makes sense-I think I should be entitled to around £10,000 back payment if I’m awarded LCWRA (as it’s nearly been two years since I handed in my first sick note and my assessment is next week). I don’t have savings and my overall capital doesn’t reach £16,000 even if I’m awarded LCWRA.

So if I receive LCWRA and I’m awarded back payment then I shouldn’t have to owe anything back? I don’t understand the last bit about it being excluded for one year.

Thank you :)

Kimi87

As advised UC count all your money as capital.

So you would add up everything you have in the bank etc.

That LCWRA backpayment would not be included in the calculation for one year.

So for one year, if UC asks how much money you have, you would add up everything then subtract the benefit backpay. Because it doesn't count as capital until after a year has passed.

LM28

That’s great- thanks so much for explaining and simplifying for me. Really appreciate your help and time with this.

LM28

One last thing, is the back payment process easy to navigate? If I was awarded LCWRA then would the back pay be automatically paid or would I need to speak to someone from UC / WCA?

Kimi87

It will be automatically paid once calculated, but can take several weeks at least for them to do so, especially if it is complex like yours spanning multiple years.

You'll know when this has been done as a letter will be added to your Journal stating the amount owed. The money will then arrive several working days later.

LM28

Okay that makes sense. Thank you for stating this so clearly. Now to wait for my assessment next week!

LM28

Hi @kimmy87

I had my WCA last Friday and I think it went as well as it could do. I’m going to ask on my journal this Friday about any assessment reports and if they’ve been sent through etc.

Out of curiosity, if I am awarded LCWRA, how often is it reassessed? With PIP it can be every 3-5 years etc. Does LCWRA work like this? I just wondered how long you are on it before you have to have another assessment? Thanks :)

Kimi87

LCWRA doesn't have a fixed end date like PIP. LCWRA carries on being paid until such a time as you are found to have LCW or fit for work.

There will be a date on the system for reassessment, but they can re assess at any time.

LCWRA reassessments for the vast majority have been suspended for quite a few years, so significant backlogs exist within the system.

LM28

This makes complete sense! Thank you again for all your help.

LM28

Hi @Kimmy87

I’ve just received a message back from my work coach (even though I went through the payment option in the journal) and they’ve said that for any health assessment enquires I need to get in touch with Maximus and then she went onto provide their number. I asked in my journal if they’ve received the assessment report yet and if so, can they send it to me.

Do you have any advice on next steps as I thought it was only UC who can provide the outcome of your assessment?

Thank you

Kimi87

A DWP Decision Maker decides on the claim after receiving the assessment report.

Hopefully they will let you know whether they have had the report. If they haven't, it is correct to contact Maximus.

Occasionally reports go to audit (this is an internal process for the agency and has no affect on the outcome for you), this delays the DWP receiving it.

LM28

Okay thank you.

It’s been a week since my assessment and I haven’t heard anything but my work coach said that I should ring Maximus for updates. I assume that means UC haven’t received it yet? There’s probably not much point contacting Maximus as I assume they can’t tell me if I’ve been awarded LCWRA or not?

Kimi87

Maximus can't tell you the contents of the report, but can say whether they still have it or whether it's been sent to the DWP.