Help with Universal Credit & LCWRA

laurenxs

I've been waiting to find out a decision in regards to LCW/LCWRA on universal credit. (Been over 5 months and a half since i applied)

I called the universal credit helpline today and they told me it says on the system I have LCWRA but they cant tell me how long it will be until it shows up on my unicersal credit online account. Glad to know i dont need to worry about the result anymore but bit confused as to what this means? I've called before and told there was nothing on the system so does this mean a decision has been made ?

Ami2301

Hi @laurenxs I would suggest waiting for your decision letter is the best thing to do  

Adrian_Scope

Hi @laurenxs, it sounds like they might have made a decision. Have you logged into your UC account and checked if there is any update at all?

maza

I have just neen awarded LCWRA and i was notified on my universal credit journal and when i asked about getting a letter it says they don't send letters they put them on your journal. M

laurenxs

Thank you for your replies!

I've checked my online journal and still nothing on there - i thought they couldn't tell you the decision until then? That's why im confused as to how he knew on the phone?

janer1967

When I got mine after tribunal took over 6 weeks to go on my journal and this was only after I rang them. However I had been paid the LCWRA in my payment but nothing had appeared on my online account. Once it was on there was a letter attached 

Adrian_Scope

Thanks for sharing @janer1967, that's really interesting to know and helpful to hear people's first-hand experiences. 

@laurenxs, give it a few working days (so until maybe Tuesday next week) and if it still isn't showing give them another call, or put a note in your journal asking.

Keep us updated!

laurenxs

So I've called a couple of times since and they said its showing as LCWRA on their system but i have to wait for the decision maker to post the letter to my account and this could take weeks/months apparently? Its now been 6 months since I applied and is a paper based assesment so is it normal for it to take so long?

laurenxs

They've just told me the decision maker is currently deciding when to backdate my claim to, any ideas how long that takes ?

poppy123456

Once the decision is made payments are usually made fairly quickly if they owe you any backdated money. The extra element should then be added to your next UC payment.

laurenxs

I gave the UC line another call as still nothing has been added to my account and it's been 4 months since Maximus sent the assesment report to them. The person i spoke on the phone with said it had been too long as that he would pass my case over to his manager who would escalate it. Not sure what this means, does it mean my case will get looked at any faster? 

poppy123456

It should be looked at quicker yes because it's been escalated. LCWRA is paid from the 4th month of your claim starting from when you sent in your first fit/sick note.

KEE

@poppy123456 I was just looking at a recent post on Lcwra and commented in regards to this and now I understand the 4 months meaning is when 1st payment occurs but backdated from 1st ‘fit note’. Thank you

poppy123456

KEE said:

@poppy123456 I was just looking at a recent post on Lcwra and commented in regards to this and now I understand the 4 months meaning is when 1st payment occurs but backdated from 1st ‘fit note’. Thank you

No, that's not correct. It's not backdated to the date you sent your first sick note. It's not paid until the 4th month after you sent in your first sick note. If you sent in your first sick note in January then you won't be paid LCWRA element until May. If the decision takes longer than this then you will be backdated to May.

KEE

@poppy123456  Hypothetically speaking that payment in May will be for May and not to cover any period of the same illness since January when ‘fit notes ‘ began? 

poppy123456

There's a 3 month waiting period which means you don't get paid the LCWRA for those first 3 months. As UC is paid in arrears you will receive it in month 4. See link and scroll down to waiting period. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/Long-term-health-condition-or-disability-Universal-Credit

There are exceptions to this rule if you were previously claiming ESA.

KEE

Thank you @poppy123456 .