LCWRA timescale

Christinew_25

Hi I was just wondering if anyone has any idea what the recent timescale is for claiming LCWRA? I know there’s a 3 month assessment period and there’s a backlog at the moment but was hoping maybe someone has recent experience with it all and can give a more approximate timescale. I’m my sons appointee, we claimed UC 25/06, had interview a week later and determined he can’t work so got a sick note covering 12 weeks as the doctor can’t sign beyond that, the capability form was sent and returned a week later maximum. Since then silence lol. I know they’ll be an assessment before a decision so was wondering if anyone had recent experience and can help me with how long it takes from completing form till assessment? Like I said I’m aware of a backlog but hoping someone can give me some hope that he won’t be waiting till next year for an assessment lol. He has hemiplegic cerebral palsy, autism and learning disabilities so really hope it’ll be smooth though I’m prepared to fight if he’s turned down. Tia

poppy123456

Going by lots of other threads here there could be at least several months of waiting before the assessment takes plase. Paper based assessments are possible but rare. If an assessment is needed once an appointment becomes available they will contact you.

Christinew_25

Thanks, was worried it was still the same. So annoying as my son was full time college last year so we had to wait till final bursary payment before claiming UC at all, was hoping it would’ve been sorted for him returning end of the month so he could continue full time if awarded LCWRA but looks like he’ll have to go part time instead. Oh well, thanks for your reply. Do you know the criteria for paper based assessments? Is there any chance do you think that the fact he does asn college courses with a support worker could help prove he can’t work? 

poppy123456

The backlogs haven't improved at all. Infact they are probably worse than they were a year ago. I claimed UC for my daughter last January and she had her WCA in July, with the decision a week later. We have members here that have been waiting a year and more.

There's no criteria as such for a paper based assessment. If there's enough of evidence to complete the report they will. Otherwise it's an assessment.

Christinew_25 said:

Is there any chance do you think that the fact he does asn college courses with a support worker could help prove he can’t work? 

I don't think so. The WCA is about the work you can do and not the work you can't do. You can see the descriptors here for LCWRA if you haven't seen them already. https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/universal-credit-uc/uc-faq/limited-capability-for-work-related-activity

Christinew_25

I’ve took a look and he fits several of the descriptors. Fact is for him to work a job it would require me or a support worker to actually do the job lol. He can’t be left alone as no awareness of dangers but most specifically unless the job was the lead in a broadway musical he wouldn’t participate, he lives in a little bubble of happy, very innocent and much more of a child of 7 yrs old than his 21 years. The jobcentre were actually nice and helpful but I know it’s not in their hands. Hopefully it’ll come good in the end. Thanks for your help again.

poppy123456

He only needs to meet one of them to qualify for LCWRA. With college and full time, even under normal times it would be very unlikely to have a decision on the WCA by the end of this month.

Christinew_25

Yeah I figured it was probably a long shot, just hoped there would be exemptions or something in place for disabled students who can’t claim till end of term n next one starts within the three month period. Oh well, at least it’ll be sorted for next year going back full time…I hope lol

Christinew_25

Update:

so I was asking the journal a question and in the reply they said there was an update to the work capability assessment and it’s now with the decision maker. There’s been no assessment either face to face or telephone, apparently the used doctor report alone. Has that happened to anyone before? Like before teatime today I hadn’t even heard if they even received the form and now there’s been no contact just straight to decision maker. I’m nervous.

poppy123456

That’s extremely quick. Seems like a paper based assessment was completed which is rare but possible. I’ve had a couple of paper based assessments myself over the years.
Once a decision is made the letter will be uploaded onto his journal.

Christinew_25

Yeah I only applied end of June and sent in the capability form in a week later. The work coach was asking me yesterday if I heard anything yet about an assessment and I was like no, then today it’s updated to with decision maker following doctors report. I’m prepared to fight for it, just hope they aren’t going to refuse when he wasn’t even personally assessed. Thank you for replying.

poppy123456

In my opinion this can only mean a very good thing. 

Christinew_25

Fingers crossed 🤞🏼 

L_Volunteer

Good luck @Christinew_25. Please feel free to let us know how things go for you.

How are things at the moment? I hope things are ok but if you need anything we are all here for you 

Christinew_25

Still waiting, has been with decision maker for over a week and still having to go into jobcentre for meeting with work coach though that was my son’s idea coz he likes “the chat” 😂🤦🏻‍♀️ We’re hanging in there though, work coach seems positive it must’ve been a strong report from doctors for them to not even contact us for any assessment so just a matter of waiting. My son starts back at college on Tuesday, part time though since we couldn’t get this sorted in time but we’ve agreed we will fill his time with activities so he’s not bored. All in all I think we handled the chaos well lol.

sunflower2

Last assessment mom had ( for ESA) was paper based after doctors report and she was placed in the support group. So fingers crossed your son is in the LCWRA. 

I'm sure I read they can't find you fit to work from a paper based assessment they either find you not fit or they have to do face to face ect. But could be wrong

bg844

They can if they have reason to although extremely unlikely as is a paper-based all together.

Christinew_25

It’s been almost 3 weeks and still with the decision maker. Even the work coach is surprised, I have to say my son has been blessed with an understanding team at our jobcentre, makes the whole process much easier. Just wanted to put an update in the thread 

poppy123456

Once the report is returned (i know it has been) the decision can take anything up to 12 weeks. The whole process for your son has been extremely quick up to now anyway. If found to have LCWRA then the extra money isn't paid until the 4th month anyway because it's not paid at all during the waiting period.

Christinew_25

Yeah I understand he won’t be paid until end of October earliest, it’s just more for a decision so I can relax or appeal if not the outcome we’re looking for, just want it over n done with to be honest so I know what’s what if that makes sense. The college deadlines passed so now it’s just more for peace of mind. I think it would’ve been better if I didn’t know it was with the decision maker lol I was patient till I knew that.

ProudMumForever

@Christinew_25 .Hi, i waited 22 weeks for my assessment by phone, and got the decision on my UC journal 2 weeks later.
Just want to wish you good luck . 

Christinew_25

Thank you 😊 my son seems to have had a paper based assessment, apparently it’s gone to a decision maker via a doctors report so I’m hoping that’s a good sign.