Changing from LCW to LCWRA

zzapple

Hi there

Ive been in lcw universal credit group about a year migrated from ESA ,I have multiple health conditions clinical depression and anxiety and lung disease.I was recently told I have to prepare for work 10 hours a week which I will struggle to do I think I should be in the LCWRA group but just wanted to know will this effect the amount I get as currently get the higher amount and if I change into LCWRA will I get the new lower amount £217 a month after changing groups which comes in April also how do I go about this .

Kind regards

Emilee

You need to have begun the process to be reassessed before April otherwise if you are found to have LCWRA you will be placed in the new, lower amount. To begin the process you will need to report a change of circumstances (worsening condition) and provide fit notes without gaps until you are reassessed.

Mary_Scope

Hi @zzapple and a warm welcome to the community from me!

I see Emilee has already answered your question and provided some good information so I won't add anything else today but it's lovely to have you here and I hope you enjoy your time on the community😊

zzapple

Hello thank you for the replies I was originally in ESA support group when migrated to universal credit got a letter saying I was in lcw group I didn't think too much about it until 6 months down the line when they started saying I need to prepare for work I told them I have multiple health issues skin disease lung disease mental health problems PTSD anxiety and clinical depression and had a hernia operation I'm 58 now,I don't think they have explained things through now I am in a difficult position of staying on lcw higher amount and prepare for work look for work and being sanctioned or go for LCWRA and get the lower amount I think alot of people will find themselves in this position come may also the DWP can change your groups and you will get a significant less amount now

zzapple

The main thing I wanted to know was if I ask for reassement on 1st April to lwcra group and don't get assesment till say October will I keep the higher amount on now if successful or will I get the lower amount £217 which comes in on April 6th it's a significant amount to lose for me and many others who have disabilities

Kimi87

See point 3

https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/avoiding-april-2026-health-element-rate-cut-universal-credit-check-if-you-need-take-action-now

However if you feel you migrated from ESA Support Group and were mistakenly given LCW instead of LCWRA, then this is a potential avenue to explore.

I'd recommended going over your ESA paperwork and being certain you were in the Support Group.

zzapple

I most definitely was in support group as I get higher amount of ESA and got migrated over to universal credit I was told nothing would change I have some how over last 10 months ended up in lcw group they might or probably did send me a letter stating this but I didn't realise there was two groups in universal credit lcw and LCWRA I'm not sure how I've gone from support group to lcw in the migration period with no assessment

Kimi87

On legacy benefits it was possible to both be in WRAG ESA (LCW equivalent) and receive the Severe Disability Premium, if that's what you meant by higher ESA?

zzapple

Yes but I didn't prepare or look for work then and I'm not sure how they have come to that conclusion without an assessment as a job coach isn't qualified to understand how a disability works and effects your health

Kimi87

Lots of people on ESA WRAG weren't doing any work activities, it was very hit & miss.

If you received ESA WRAG with Severe Disability Premium, then after migration LCW was the correct group.

LCW is the ESA WRAG equivalent and Severe Disability Premium doesn't exist under Universal Credit.

That of course doesn't stop you asking for reassessment now to try & gain LCWRA.

zzapple

Yes i still get the sdp is that being phased out then and I'm guessing if your condition worsened in say 2027 which mine possibly will and had to change groups I'd lose that

Kimi87

SDP doesn't exist under Universal Credit.

You will be getting Transitional Protection paid because you were previously better off on legacy benefits (in your case due to being on SDP).

But it only counts as Transitional Protection now, merely another part of your UC award. The reason you get it is irrelevant as far as UC are concerned.

If you did end up getting LCWRA, your Transitional Protection would reduce by the LCWRA amount, this might mean it stops all together.

zzapple

When does transitional protection end when you change groups IE from lcw to LCWRA next year or would it continue

Kimi87

https://www.turn2us.org.uk/get-support/information-for-your-situation/universal-credit-uc-transitional-protection/when-will-my-universal-credit-uc-transitional-protection-end

Transitional Protection ends with a major change of circumstances such as moving either way between a single & couple claim.

The Transitional Protection amount erodes financially over time as elements go up or new elements are added.

If you are awarded LCWRA then your TP would reduce by £429.80 which is the higher rate from next month (assuming you start the reassessment process before the cut off date).

If your TP is less than £429.80, it will end and your overall award goes up by LCWRA minus TP amount.

zzapple

So just to be clear if someone in LCW group asks to be re assessed in march 26 but doesn't get assessed till October 26 and gets accepted into the LWCRA group they will get the higher amount £424 per month rather than the £217 new lower amount

Because there claim started in march 26 not October 26

Kimi87

Yes the date you report the change in health condition is the date the claim is counted as starting from.