UC and LCWRA amount ?

Trev000

hi,

I’ve received uc from 2021 and assessed as LCWRA. I also get pip. I understand the standard monthly rate is £393.45 for someone single and over 25, and the extra amount for LCWRA is £416.19. That extra amount is the £23.00 it isn’t the whole 416 on top of the standard rate?

Many thanks,

Kimi87

LCWRA element pays an additional £416.19.

So that and Standard Allowance makes a total of £809.64.

Trev000

thank-you for confirming that, the thing is I’ve received around £630 uc since 2021. I don’t know what to do, can I contact them to tell them or is it too late? I’m just worried as well about contacting them with what’s happening in the news and all the changes.

Kimi87

For a UC award, all the elements you are entitled to are added up, then any deductions taken off, then you are paid the balance.

What elements are listed on your payment statement?

Do your statements show any deductions?

Do you claim with a partner who gets LCWRA themselves?

Albus_Scope

Hey there @Trev000 and welcome to the community.

I can see you're already getting some top help from Kimmy and I don't want to get in the way. I just wanted to stop in and say a quick hello. I hope you can get to the bottom of this soon.

Trev000

Hi Kimmy,

Thanks for all your help, I appreciate it. The only element on my statement is the universal credit without any deductions noted. I’m single, and don’t receive housing benefit but do get pip as a separate payment and that figure is correct. My worry is rocking the boat and the dwp saying I’m not entitled to LCWRA activity (I received a notification on my journal saying I was entitled to it) or I’ve left it too late to notify them. I don’t know why I didn’t check earlier, I think I was just relieved to get to the end of the process.

Hi Albus,

That’s very kind of you, thank-you.

Kimi87

That's very strange. Standard Allowance is £393.45 (over 25) for a single person.

Do you have dependant children on your claim?

When did they tell you you were eligible for LCWRA?

Trev000

I was eligible for the LCWRA in 2021, but I’ve been a complete idiot - when I first applied I did have some savings obviously below the 16000 threshold, so they’ve continued deducting around £150 a month. The thing is I had to use those funds in my account to supplement the lower uc amount.
I’m guessing this is very unlikely, but is it possible do you think they’d repay the amount deducted if I were to submit bank statements proving I didn’t have the money in the account? I suppose the onus was on me to notify them though.

Kimi87

Do report your current savings asap so your UC award increases.

I'd also recommend discussing the historical issue with a trained benefits advisor. You are right though the onus is on the claimant to correctly report savings as and when they need to.

https://advicelocal.uk/welfare-benefits

Angel59

Angel59

I got told from scope when I apply for Universal credit they take your savings from the day you apply not the past I am on contribution based e s a and pip and got told i will get L C W R A today on the phone i phoned universal credit helpline number today But it is not showing up on my journal yet so I am a bit worried

Kimi87

It can take ESA a few weeks to confirm your award with UC, and you won't see anything until your first payment statement which will be available 4-6 days before your payment date.

You should then see LCWRA element on that statement.

Trev000

apologies for taking so long to reply. I’ve contacted Citizens Advice and basically been advised to contact the dwp directly, which I’ve done. I’m almost sure they can’t repay the money deducted for my mistake but I thought it was worth making sure. Thanks again to you all for your advice.