LCWRA Group awarded

talsmummy82

Hi! Hope everyone is having a good day.

First time posting here. Having read a lot of your posts, you all seem like a friendly knowledgeable bunch, so I’m hoping you can help me. 

Following on from my assessment a few weeks ago, I have now received a letter advising they have put me in the LCWRA group. I was led to believe that if I was awarded this I would receive an extra payment of just under £350pcm in my monthly UC payments. However having spoken to a friend who was awarded this earlier this year, She said she was told that they are no longer making these payments as of last year unless you applied before a certain date (not sure of exact date but thinks it may be 2017). I haven’t worked since having my daughter who is 3 and do not have a partner (I don’t know if these circumstances make a difference).

has anyone else applied and been awarded Lcwra this year? And if so did you get the extra payment? I’m so confused. I’ve found the whole process so confusing and am yet to apply for PIP :-(

poppy123456

Hi,

Your friend clearly doesn't quite understand what LCWRA is because they are not correct. What your friend is talking about applies to those that have been awarded LCW only. For those that started their claim after April 2017 there's no extra money for this group.

You will receive an extra £343 from the 4th month of your claim starting from when you first reported your health condition. This is because there's a full 3 months assessment period waiting time.

See link. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/universal_credit_work_capability_assessment

talsmummy82

Hi Poppy123456! Thanks for responding. This is what I thought, but when I asked her is she sure she wasn’t placed in the LCW group, she was adamant it was LCWRA. Having read your response though, I think you may be right and she doesn’t understand the difference between the 2 groups. Thanks so much for your help, I was really worried and needed that bit of reassurance. 

poppy123456

If your friend is claiming UC with a partner that already has the LCWRA element then you can't receive 2 LCWRA elements in one claim so maybe this is why they don't receive it.

poppy123456

If you were also affected by the benefit cap, now you've been awarded the LCWRA element, you will no longer be affected by this cap.

talsmummy82

Ahhh that may be it! Thanks so much you’ve been really helpful.