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LCWRA Backdating – Assessment Delay Issue

ayesmall23

Hi, I’m looking for some advice about LCWRA backdating.

I returned my UC50 form on 2 February 2024 and sent everything back on time. My assessment didn’t take place until 30 October 2025, which was a delay of nearly 20 months caused by the assessment provider, not by me.

Universal Credit have now awarded me LCWRA, but they say they can only start it from 25 November 2025 (the date of the decision). They said they cannot backdate it to when they first received my UC50.

From what I understand, the LCWRA start date should be:

UC50 received: 2 February 2024

My assessment periods run: 13th → 12th each month

Three waiting periods:

13 Feb–12 Mar

13 Mar–12 Apr

13 Apr–12 May

So LCWRA should start from 13 May–12 June 2024, with first payment due on 12 June 2024.

The long delay to my assessment was not my fault, and I’ve read that assessment delays shouldn’t affect the LCWRA start date.

Has anyone experienced this before, or can anyone confirm whether DWP should be backdating LCWRA to June 2024 in a case like this?

Any advice would be really appreciated. Thank you.

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Comments

Kimi87

Did you have a previous LCW award?

If yes did you initiate the review, or were you contacted by DWP out of the blue?

Did you submit Fit Notes without gaps* from early 2024 up until the date of the decision?

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

ayesmall23

Hi, thanks for your message.

To answer your question about Fit Notes:

I was never asked to provide any Fit Notes because I was already on Work Capability but still expected to look for work.

I wasn’t classed as LCW or LCWRA before — just in the group where they knew I had health issues but still had work-related requirements.

So I didn’t have a previous LCW/LCWRA award and I didn’t submit Fit Notes, because DWP didn’t request any from me at any point.

Everything started when they contacted me out of the blue and sent me the UC50 form, which I filled in and returned on 2 February 2024.

The only delay in the whole process was the assessment provider taking nearly 20 months to give me an assessment (which finally happened on 30 October 2025).

ayesmall23

Think I was on lwc before, I didn't get the extra £426 before

Kimi87

If found to have LCWRA from a previous LCW award, and DWP triggered the review then there is no backpay.

Also when moving from LCW to LCWRA there is no waiting period.

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

You are free to make a complaint with the health assessment agency over the waiting time.