Lcwra? I'm confused

Sprayberry

Hi, I'm new here. I've been on uc since July/August 2024. I submitted my first fit note 25 September 2024 and had my capability to work assessment sometime in January (I don't remember the exact date).

I get my standard uc payments on the 11th of every month. I was told I had limited capability for work and work related activities, that I may be entitled to additional pay 3 months after I submit my first fit note and I don't have to look for work or attend appointments.

It's now May 2025, I've left a message in my journal 15 April and I've not heard anything back. I'm very confused because I haven't received anything and I'm unsure if I'm in LCWRA or LCW? On my payments menu, it says "Limited Capability For Work And Work Related Activities" yet I've heard nothing nor received nothing yet ever since my letter.

Any advice on what I do?

Kimi87

Before being awarded LCWRA did you have and Transitional Protection on your claim? If so how much was it?

Do you claim jointly with a partner that gets LCWRA themselves?

In submitting your Fit Notes were there any breaks, gaps, ones that were backdated?

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

By "payments menu" do you mean your payment statement?

OverlyAnxious

Hi,

When you get LCWRA, your Work Coach is removed, so journal messages often get missed because of this. The best solution is to try sending the message under different headings and eventually someone should reply.

LCWRA should show on your statements now. Would you mind posting a screenshot of last months statement so we can see which elements you are getting?

If you have a partner on LCWRA then you won't get any extra money, as only one of you can claim LCWRA out of a couple. I can't think of any other reason that it wouldn't be added though. So it probably is just an error at their end.

Sprayberry

@Kimi87 firstly, thank you for replying :)

I assume I didn't have transitional protection as something like that was never mentioned to me nor have I heard of it.

Im not in a partnership, the only person I live with who claims any sort of benefits is my mother but I was told that wouldn't effect anything.

My fit notes were due 15 every month and the only gap was not submitting my December one. I was given untill 11 January to submit it but my assessment came 9th January (had to to check) and was then told not to bother submitting it until I heard back from dwp.

I submitted each fit note on time on the day they were suppose to be submitted. The only exception my work coach gave me was if my doctors office was closed (like on weekends) then I could submit them a day or two early/late if necessary.

The only gap truly was the December period that I had missed

Kimi87

If Transitional Protection is not on your statements, then you don't get it, not everyone does.

If you do get it, it will reduce by the LCWRA amount which is £423.27.

You are correct they are only concerned with a partners circumstances, not anyone else you live with.

As you have a gap in Fit Notes we can't advise from here when DWP will start your waiting period.

Unfortunately you received incorrect advice, Fit Notes should have been supplied up until you had the decision from the work capability assessment.

The waiting period is three full assessment periods dating from the first Fit Note (assuming no gaps), or three full assessment periods from when there were no gaps.

I've seen DWP do different things with Fit Note gaps, even against their own rules sometimes, so my advice is to keep sending Journal notes asking when your Relevant Period will be for LCWRA to be paid.

Sprayberry

@OverlyAnxious thank you for replying :)

I attached an image, is this what you mean?

I am not in a partnership so it is just me.

The first message I left was under the "Payments" category and I did get a replying telling me to contact ESA but they couldn't do anything for me.

The last message I left (April 15) was under the same category and no response yet.

The limited capability for work and work related activities would show up when I clicked on the payments tab, just above where I can click to view my statements. A family member told me to report a change in my journal (he did that and then was given his pay so he told me to do the same) and I did but now the limited capability for work and work related activities doesn't seem to be there again now. Unless I forgot exactly where I saw it prior.

I am very confused haha😅

OverlyAnxious

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1029226#Comment_1029226

Yes, that's the right screenshot, thank you.

LCWRA would show up on there as a separate amount underneath the Standard Allowance. LCWRA is now £423.27 a month.

(If not already aware, your standard allowance will also be slightly more on the next statement, that was increased to £316.98 in April).

I have absolutely no idea why UC would tell you to contact ESA for a LCWRA issue. You aren't on ESA, that's a completely different benefit!

I wouldn't have reported a change in this case, that can trigger automatic requests for fit notes and even another assessment, but hopefully it hasn't done any harm this time.

Sadly all you can do is keep contacting UC until you get an answer. The payments heading is usually the best one to send a message through, but sounds like that hasn't worked for you. I'd probably try sending a message under payments again, but also copy & paste it under another heading as well, so it goes to as many staff departments as possible. You can also try calling the UC helpline if you're able to. They can't do anything more than the journal staff can, but that can sometimes give the journal staff a push in the right direction.

The only other option is to wait another 3 weeks and see if LCWRA appears on your next statement.