LCWRA and back payment question

DarrenSmith

Hi, I've just received a letter in my journal informing me that I've qualified for LCWRA.

I submitted my first sick note on the 17th January and have just received my letter informing me I qualify for LCWRA today, the 7th May.

I receive my UC payment on the 20th of each month. My period dates are the 14th-13th of each month.

I'm confused about the whole 3-month waiting period and what it means in terms of back pay for me.

Do I qualify for any back payment at all? And on which date am I expected to receive my first LCWRA payment?

Thank you :)

SLK

Somebody with greater knowledge may come along but my thoughts are. The LCWRA element begins after 3 assessment periods following your first fit note. Since you submitted it on 17th Jan, your 3 waiting periods are:

Jan - Feb

Feb to Mar

Mar - Apr

I would assume you'd get it in your next payment and the back payment would be from April.

Kimi87

What date please did you report the health condition?

Were there any gaps in submitting Fit Notes, any that were backdated etc?

It's the date they were handed to UC that counts, not the start date written on them.

DarrenSmith

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1025793#Comment_1025793

I reported the Health Condition on the 16th January and the fit note was provided to them on the 17th. There has been no gaps in the sick notes since.

Kimi87

My estimate of your waiting period:

January/February: AP 1

February/March: AP 2

March/April: AP 3

April/May: Eligible for LCWRA element

May 20th: First LCWRA element paid.

Even though you've received a decision letter, UC still need time to fully process the decision.

If LCWRA is missing from your next statement, you will be owed one month LCWRA element.

Any Transitional Protection will reduce by the LCWRA amount.

If any money ends up being owed, this is calculated and paid separately. You'll know when this has been done as a letter will be added to your Journal, stating the amount owed. Payment will be sent within a few working days.

DarrenSmith

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1025801#Comment_1025801

Thank you so much! You've been a great help :)

DarrenSmith

I've had this sent to my journal:

"Hi Darren,
I have had a look and I can confirm all the necessary changes have now been applied to the claim and the extra payment for 'limited capability for work and work-related activity' (LCWRA) will be paid.

The LCWRA was awarded on 16/01/2025.
This falls within the assessment period (AP) 14/01/2025 to 13/02/2025.
The relevant (or waiting) period for LCWRA is 3 assessment periods after the assessment period the LCWRA was awarded in.
The relevant period is therefore 14/02/2025 to 13/05/2025.

The first payment of LCWRA will be made in AP 14/05/2025 to 13/06/2025 and paid on 20/06/2025.

Hope this clarifies the payments for you.

Regards"

According to this there is no back payment due. Surely there should be as it'll be 5 months from sending in the first sick note to receiving my first LCWRA payment?

Kimi87

The Journal replies don't always get this correct.

The waiting period for LCWRA payment is three full assessment periods.

There is a special rule that if you report the health condition and submit the first Fit Note within 7 days at the beginning of your assessment period, it counts as a full assessment period. You met these conditions.

I've reviewed the thread and feel my advice was correct.

The Journal reply mentioned that the LCWRA decision has been applied to your claim.

Hopefully, someone with more experience will look at your claim and award you payment from the April/May AP.

DarrenSmith

Thank you! Do I bring this query up on the journal or do I sit and wait for a while?

Kimi87

Personally I'd wait, but it's entirely up to you.

DarrenSmith

Well, it looks like they're being difficult. They sent this to my journal:

"You are not due any backdated payment. You were awarded LCWRA (Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity) on 16/01/25. You then have to wait three full assessment period before the additional element becomes payable. This means the additional element should be paid in assessment period 14/05/25 to 13/06/25. Your latest award shows this is now in payment to you."

Any suggestion on how to proceed?

DarrenSmith

And now they've just sent this:

"I apologise that you are finding this confusing. Your assessment period runs from 14th to 13th of each month. You were awarded LCWRA on 16/01/25. This fell into assessment period 14/01/25 to 13/02/25. As you can't be paid an element part month, it moves to the next full assessment period. This means you had to wait for assessment period 14/02/25 to 13/03/25, 14/03/25 to 13/04/25 and 14/04/25 to 13/05/25 before the element became payable."

OverlyAnxious

Hi,

The 7 days rule only applies to new claims. Did you have a UC claim open before declaring the health conditions? If so, they are correct, no money owed.

The first month would only be counted if you provided the fit note within 7 days of opening the claim.

DarrenSmith

Ah, my general UC claim has been in action for a couple of years now, so I'm guessing that's why. It's unfair that I missed out on around 28 days worth of payment though because of that. Anyhow, thank you.