Awarded lcwra 6th July had payment added to my 19th pay date

justmelaura

hi all I’m new, I had a telephone wc meeting on the 1st August, then was awarded lcwra 6th August, minimal information from Dwp I’ve had the extra payment added to my 19th August payment so was technically awarded and will be paid with in a few weeks, I spoke to my work coach she didn’t have a lot of information for me but I filled in the questionnaire last year July time they had contact from my GP with a list of my medical problems. I’ve been assessed once before without any information from my GP in 2021 I think was awarded LCW without me knowing nothing was sent to my journal I’ve checked 3 times, with that I’ve found I put in fit notes in 2021 also updated my health condition and that my husbands now my carer in 2022. My work coach had no idea what any of it means apart from that I was awarded it from the 6th witch don’t make sense as I would think I would only get a partial payment? Not full payment 13 days after my award?

Albus_Scope

Heya @justmelaura and a very warm welcome to the community. 😁

It sounds like you have a less than helpful work coach there, I'm so sorry! Usually with LCWRA, there will be a 3 month gap after you handed in your first fit note, before you receive any payments, then you'll receive the full LCWRA component on your usual UC payments from the 4th payment cycle. So this is very confusing!

justmelaura

yes she didn’t know much more than I did she read my “award” letter and her words were well that’s rubbish she did mention my questionnaire and the fact I updated my health conditions back in 2022 but just that I was awarded from 6th August but that doesn’t make sense because I have no idea where my waiting period was because I had my work capability meeting on the 1st August. It says I can phone for my full report I have and tbh when I did the person on the phone didn’t know how to get that 😬 to say I’ve not had any information is an understatement thank you for answering 😊

Kimi87

The LCWRA decision applies to the Assessment Period in which the decision was made.

Your circumstances on the last day of AP are particularly important.

So as you were entitled to LCWRA on the last day if your AP you are paid for the entire AP.

UC don't do partial payments.

justmelaura

as far as I knew I was on LCW I was only made aware of that when I asked because I had a WC meeting way back when and didn’t have a award letter or anything. So as for my waiting period I’m unsure because I updated my health problems In 2022.

justmelaura

oh my award period is 12th to 13th each month

Kimi87

When going from LCW to LCWRA there is no waiting period. The eligibility for extra payment starts in the AP that the decision was made.

Backdated extra payment only applies to claims where:

The claimant triggered the WCA by reporting a change in health

AND

The claimant submitted a Fit Note and has supplied them continuously up until the WCA decision.

justmelaura

would that mean because I added my medical change it will go from then? Thank you ☺️

Kimi87

Only if you met the second condition of submitting a Fit Note at the time and submitting them continuously since up until the WCA decision.

justmelaura

I was already on LCW so I didn’t need to supply fit notes I was told that much a few years ago.

When I supplied fit notes that triggered an assessment, they decided LCW I then had a change in my medical issues and updated them I think that triggered another assessment but that was 2022 and then 2024 I was sent the questionnaire and then they got my medical history from my GP then I had a WCA 1st August 2025. I wish that UC could give me any information but I didn’t get much really, like is it from when I filled the questionnaire in and they got my medical history from my GP who knows 🤦‍♀️☺️

Kimi87

From the information given it seems the DWP triggered the WCA, in which case when going from LCW to LCWRA the LCWRA payment only applies to the Assessment Period in which the decision was made.

Looking at your dates you may well be owed one months LCWRA element for the July/August AP.

Backpay is calculated and paid separately, this usually takes several weeks at least.

You'll know when this has been done as a letter will be added to your Journal stating the amount owed due to underpayment. The money will then be paid within a few working days.

justmelaura

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1059018#Comment_1059018

thank you, you have been very helpful I don’t really care about a back payment I just didn’t get a straight answer from anyone at UC mainly because they didn’t know what happened or from when 😊