What to expect in a LCWRA meeting - on Weds

NewTime · June 18

Hello all, I think I have posted about this a couple of times and I suppose I am still not all there with how UC works, never mind this LCWRA assessment! It is coming on Wednesday and having sort of understand about what may happen would be helpful.

Firstly, I have Autism.

What questions will they ask? How long will the assessment take? How long before a decision? If successful, how long before arrears payment? Are the arrears limited as I read somewhere they dismiss the first few months? Will they ask for Fit notes?

Thank you for any help.

martinezXgonzales · June 18

Hello - well from experience…

Take notes of things said,

write down what you want to convey also as I always get lost in asking questions, I think of 1 then forget to ask it…

Above all - chill with it,take something with a favorite scent & maybe ear pods, have something to block out noise, even if its just a waterfall in the south Americas.

martinezXgonzales · June 18

the guide I'm posting isnt printing so if you want - contact me & I'll email or post it to you.

martinezXgonzales · June 18

In each case, think about what it costs, in the amount of time and energy it takes:

to plan and prepare,
to physically complete the task – are you able to do it reliably? This means can you do it safely, to an acceptable standard, as often as you need to, and in a reasonable length of time?
to recover from completing the task,
how long it would be before you could repeat it.

If you encounter difficulty doing any of the tasks, be specific about what the trouble is, and relate it to the symptoms that you experience, and the condition that is causing the symptoms.

It’s important to talk about everything that affects your ability to complete the tasks that arises from your condition.

Fatigue is a common experience for anyone with a long-term health condition or disability. Common symptoms of fatigue are:

“brain fog” – difficulty concentrating or focussing on a task
poor short-term memory
poor sleep despite feeling tired all the time
changes to appetite
emotional fragility – being bad-tempered or snappy with others, or crying easily

To help convey how mental health conditions affect how you complete the activities, explain the physical experience. For example, when we are anxious, we can experience some or all of the following physical symptoms:

increased heart rate
shallow breathing or a tight chest – not being able to get a “big breath”
tingling in the fingers or face
urgency to go to the toilet
nausea
racing thoughts focussed on what we perceive as a threat
feeling of impending doom

Some useful ways to explain the experience of depression and how it can affect completing the activities are:

lack of motivation, interest and enjoyment in activities you previously found rewarding
feeling heavy, numb, empty
unable to connect with others

Our helpline advisers can talk you through the form and answer any questions you might have. We are unable to offer face to face help with forms, but you are very welcome to call us for advice.

You may want to do some preparation beforehand. If you can get an idea of which activities you think you can score points on, and make a few notes for each of them, this would be very helpful. As the form is quite detailed, you might want to focus on the questions you feel relate most your condition.

In the meantime, you may wish to look at the WCA limited capability for work assessment descriptors. These are the criteria that the Department for Work and Pensions will be looking for on each activity.

If your condition changes day by day
You might find it hard to describe a normal day if your symptoms change or are worse on some days than others.
The DWP want to know what you can do most days. Think about:

what you usually expect to do in a day
what you can do on bad days - and how often they happen
what you can do on good days - and how often they happen

Try to keep a diary before you send the form, so it’s easier to see what you usually do. Keep the diary for 1 or 2 weeks if you have time, but don’t delay sending the form. You can send more information afterwards if you need to.

Before you start the diary, check the form to find out what activities and situations it asks about. Make a list of the ones you find difficult - for example if it’s hard to carry things or talk to people you don’t know. Use the list when you fill in the diary - this will make it easier to answer the questions on the form.

Moving around
50 metres is about the length of 5 double-decker buses.

Level ground
You should explain in the box:

how long it usually takes you to move 50 metres, 100 metres and 200 metres (or more) - if you can't move those distances, you should explain that
whether moving causes you pain and roughly how long for
whether it makes you out of breath
if it makes you dizzy or unsteady on your feet
whether you've fallen in the past - remember to say how often this happens, and whether you needed someone else to help you to get up
whether you'd be able to move that distance again throughout the day
if you have good and bad days, and what the differences are
how you manage when you leave the house If you can only move around within your home

If you use something to help you get around (for example crutches or a walking stick), it's important to explain how and why you use it.

Using steps
If using steps would cause you pain, you should explain in the box:

how bad the pain would be, for example so bad that you couldn't move
the nature of the pain, for example throbbing, stomach pain or sharp pain
how long you'd be in pain for, for example about 4 hours
whether it'd stop you doing anything else and for how long, for example you'd have to lie down for the rest of the day

If going up and down steps would make you tired or breathless, you should say:

how tired you'd be, for example whether you'd need to sit or lie down
how long you'd be tired for (you can estimate this)
whether being tired would stop you doing other things, and for how long
how it'd affect the rest of your day, for example you'd be too tired to talk to someone

Standing and Sitting
You should explain things like:

if it's difficult for you to change from standing up to sitting down, or from sitting to standing - and what makes it difficult for you
if you'd need to do something after sitting or standing for too long, for example relieve the pain by laying down
what problems you have when you sit or stand for too long - such as feeling sick, tiredness, trouble breathing, muscle pain or joint pain
why you have problems, for example your bad back makes it hard to balance
whether there are positions you can't sit in because they cause you pain

Reaching
This question is about whether you can reach up with either arm, above waist height. It isn't about reaching down or to the side.
Think about whether it's hard for you to:

wash or brush your hair
dress your top half
hang out washing
get something out of a high cupboard

Don't feel embarrassed about your answers - if you find it hard to raise your arms it's important for the DWP to know this.

It's important you tell the DWP more by explaining your situation in the box.

Use the blank box to explain what happens when you try to raise your arms. For example:

if you always struggle, or if the way your condition affects you changes - for example 4 out of 7 days
how it feels when you try to raise your arms
if it causes you pain, how severe the pain is and how it affects you
if you need help from someone else for certain things - like washing your hair
how often you need help, and what you need help doing
if you have good days and bad days, and how they differ
what happens if you try to reach up on a bad day

Picking up and moving things
Think about your stronger hand if one hand's stronger than the other.

Picking up a pint / two pint carton full of liquid
Try picking up a pint / two pint of milk or a pint glass of water. Don't feel embarrassed if you have to tick "no", for example if:

you can't pick it up - maybe you have to pull it towards you instead
it causes you pain - for example in your hands, fingers, shoulders or neck
you can't move it smoothly - you'd end up dropping it

You should explain in the box:

how you usually pick up and move things
whether picking up or moving things causes you pain or discomfort - for example in your hands, fingers, shoulders or neck
how long the pain lasts, and how severe it is (if picking up and moving things causes you pain)
whether picking up and moving things causes you to be short of breath, feel dizzy or tired

You should also think about (and explain):

what happens if you pick up and move things more than once, not just as a one-off
what happens on good and bad days
whether you drop things - you could give an example, and say what happened after you dropped something (eg you had to go to A&E)
if you have problems moving things smoothly, and how this affects whether you pick things up

Manual dexterity
You should explain if, for example:

somebody else has to fill in forms for you because you can't grip a pen
it takes you a long time to get dressed because it's hard for you to fasten zips, buttons or shoelaces
using your hands, for example to open a jar lid or your front door with a key causes you pain
you drop things because you can't grip or pinch them
you can't drive because of your condition, for example if you can't grip the steering wheel or use a gear stick

Communicating – speaking, writing and typing
Give as much information as you can about your difficulties communicating with people. For example, explain:

if people don't understand you - give examples if you can
how it makes you feel if when someone can't understand you
if you avoid communicating because it's hard, takes too long, or frustrates you
whether someone helps you to communicate, and how they help you
how often you have difficulties
whether you have good days and bad days, and what the differences are

Communicating - hearing and reading
Give as much information as you can about your difficulties communicating with people. For example, explain:

if people don't understand you - give examples if you can
how it makes you feel if when someone can't understand you
if you avoid communicating because it's hard, takes too long, or frustrates you
whether someone helps you to communicate, and how they help you
how often you have difficulties
whether you have good days and bad days, and what the differences are

Getting around safely
It's important to explain things like:

what would stop you from crossing the road on your own
whether you've fallen in the past
if you have good and bad days (for example, if you have migraines) - and what it's like for you on different days
whether you can use public transport to get around - for example you can't see the number on the bus, so don't know if it's the right route
if you can get around a supermarket to find what you're looking for
if you can focus on things when you need to - for example road signs

Controlling your bowels and bladder
You should explain things like:

what happens if you can't reach a toilet quickly
how often you need to wash or change your clothes because of difficulty controlling your bladder or bowels
whether you carry spare clothes around in case of emergencies
if you take medication to control your bladder or bowels, and whether it works
the problems you have if you want to go out - for example if you need to stay close to a toilet to avoid accidents
how often you have flare-ups, for example if your Crohn's disease is usually well controlled with medication, but you get severe diarrhoea once every 6 months

Staying conscious when awake
You should explain:

if you have any warning that you're about to have a fit or seizure
if you've been taken to hospital - say how many times this has happened
how long it takes you to recover
if you're afraid to go out in case you have a fit or seizure
if you've injured yourself or had an accident during a fit or seizure, for example if you've hit your head
if your medication gives you side effects - say what they are and what you do about them
if you've lost your driving licence (or you've never had one) because of your illness or disability

Write down if, after losing consciousness, you:

need to take time to recover, such as going to bed
don't know how you'll feel - you may become aggressive or unpredictable
are unaware of what's going on around you
need someone to care for you

Learning how to do tasks
It's important you tell the DWP more by explaining your situation in the box - you should give more details on whether you can learn how to do both simple and more complex tasks.
You should explain in the box:

if there's anything that you couldn't learn to do (or struggled with) because you find it too difficult - for example using a dishwasher
if you need to practice and repeat tasks regularly to learn them - and how long it'd take you
whether medication you're taking has affected your ability to learn new tasks - try to compare what it was like before you started taking the medication
whether you can focus on tasks
if you have problems with your short-term memory
if you have good and bad days - and what it's like for you on different days
whether you'd be able to learn more than one new task in a day

Awareness of hazards or danger
You should explain in the box (and give examples):

if you're at risk of hurting yourself - for example you don't always notice when something is dangerous because of depression or anxiety
if you sometimes act on impulse and only realise how dangerous it was afterwards - for example you have bipolar and take risks when you're on a high
if you forget to be careful, behave irrationally or take sudden risks in an unpredictable way

Starting and finishing tasks
It's important to explain whether:

your condition makes it hard for you to concentrate
you need to be reminded or encouraged
you get confused
you get distracted
you forget what you're doing
your medication affects how you complete tasks
your condition makes you lack motivation
your condition makes you lack energy or you get tired
you have good days and bad days

Coping with changes
You should explain things like:

whether you have problems coping with planned changes to your day
whether you can't cope with sudden changes
whether your medication affects how you cope with change
how you cope with change - use examples, if you can
how your day would be affected if your routine changed, for example whether you'd be able to do what you'd planned
how often you'd be affected by change in this way
anything you avoid doing because of potential problems, for example you avoid meeting friends for a meal because you'd be upset if you couldn't sit in a window seat

Going out
You should explain things like:

if a mental health condition causes you problems going out - what the condition is and what medication you take for it
what would happen if you tried to go to a familiar or unfamiliar place on your own
any difficulties you get into when you go out - for example panic attacks, getting lost or road accidents
the difference it makes if you have someone with you
if you have good and bad days, and what the differences are

Coping with social situations
Use the blank box to explain how you feel about spending time with other people. For example:

how you feel when you have to meet and speak to people
if you find it hard to relate to people - how they react to you, and how it makes you feel
how often you avoid seeing or meeting people
whether you find it easier to meet other people if someone you trust is with you
whether you have good and bad days
if you could cope with meeting or speaking to more than one person at a time
whether it physically affects you, for example makes you feel hot, faint or dizzy

Behaving appropriately
You should explain if, for example:

you've ever become violent towards someone - and say if you've been arrested because of it
you've been barred from a shop, pub or other place
your medication makes you behave in an inappropriate or unusual way
you have a problem with drugs or alcohol that makes you aggressive or act inappropriately
you know you upset people, but you can't control your actions
you've been so upset that you can't calm down
you won't go out because you're scared you'll do or say something that could affect other people

Eating and drinking
Explain what problems you have eating and drinking, for example:

if someone needs to remind or prompt you to eat or drink
if it causes you pain to eat or drink, or makes you feel out of breath
if it takes a long time for you to eat or drink because it's physically difficult for you, or you forget what you're doing
if someone physically helps you to eat or drink, and how they help you
if your condition means you forget to eat or don't want to eat, how this affects you.

Emilee · June 19

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/147107/what-to-expect-in-a-lcwra-meeting-on-weds

@NewTime , good luck for Wednesday. Just remember to take your time and don't feel rushed into answering their questions.

What questions will they ask?
They'll usually ask about the information you've included on your form, but in more detail. For example, if you've said you can't follow a journey, they may ask questions such as: "How did you get here today?" or "How do you do your shopping?"

Try not to answer with just "yes" or "no", even if the questions are framed that way. Give as much relevant information as you can.

How long will the assessment take?
It varies depending on how much information they feel they need. Assessments can last anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours. You can't tell whether it's gone well or not based on the length of the assessment, some just take longer than others.

How long before a decision is made?
Some people receive a decision the same day, while others wait up to two months. After about a week, you should be able to request a copy of the assessor's report through UC. This can give you an idea of what has been recommended.

If successful, how long before any arrears are paid?
Usually no more than a week after the decision has been made.

Are arrears limited? I read somewhere that the first few months don't count.
There is a three-month waiting period before LCWRA is paid, so the first three assessment periods won't be included when calculating any back pay.

To give an answer specific to your situation, we'd need more information, such as when you first started submitting fit notes and what your assessment period dates are. It also makes a difference whether this is your first assessment or a review.

martinezXgonzales · June 19

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1132904#Comment_1132904

yes it came out at last, I do have other guides & advice from various people alos if you would like me to upload or email you, just ocntact me.

good luck with next week

NewTime · June 22

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1132903#Comment_1132903

thanks for all of the replies.

how do you find out the same day? do they tell you in the journal?

in the letter I have I am unsure what kind of appointment it is? it says 'appointment for an assessment with healthcare professional'.

also not sure what to expect with fit notes as my fit notes are messy as the doctors always seem to question them.

Emilee · June 24

Yes they upload the decision to your journal @NewTime.

The letter sounds like a work capability assessment.

If there are gaps between your fit notes it may impact any backdating of your LCWRA, it would be up to a decision maker. You can scroll back through on your journal to look at the dates of the ones you have submitted if you are unsure.

NewTime · June 28

I was hoping that a decision would have been made and can move on from this, but when I got there, they were 30 minutes late and then came out and said they were going to have to cancel my appointment.

Now it is a telephone appointment and I don't know if that will be good for me?

NewTime · July 8

I had my assessment this morning and it seemed to go all OK, but I feel a little confused as I thought it would be questions about how it would affect me work wise, but it was not the case.

Just asked how things affected me and so on, seemed to go OK.

She asked me if I had any questions and I just asked how long it would take as my last appointment was cancelled and she said it would take 'upto' 6 weeks, I am hoping this is not the case and would hear something through my journal? But she said I would hear via letter…..?

Kimi87 · July 8

They don't focus on working specifically, but ask questions around the same activities as your form did.

A letter will be added to your Journal stating the outcome.

It can take up to 12 weeks, but it varies widely some people hear within days, others a few weeks.

What to expect in a LCWRA meeting - on Weds

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