Hi, my name is timberzz! Are you allowed to work up to 16 hours without LCWRA being affected?

timberzz

Hello,

My partner is on universal credit on the hand of limited capability for work and work related activity. 

He would like to try and start working to see if he can manage a few hours a week to boost his confidence and self esteem - but is worried it will affect his benefits.

Can you advise: is he allowed to still claim all his current universal credit benefits and work up to 16 hours without them being affected? 

Any advice would be much appreciated,

poppy123456

There's no amount of hours you can work when claiming UC with either LCW or LCWRA. However, if the work you do contradicts the reasons why you were found to have LCWRA then it could go against you when you are next reassessed.

If they start working they will need to report a changed of circumstances and tell them they are working.

They will have the work allowance which means a certain amount of earnings will be disregarded before the 55% deductions apply.

If they claim for help with the rent it will be £344, if they don't it will be £573.

Tori_Scope

Welcome to the community @timberzz  

Thank you for joining, and for asking about this. You can certainly work and claim LCWRA, yes. I hope that poppy123456's explanation above has helped to clear that up for you. 

Working can be a good way of boosting confidence and self-esteem for sure. Volunteering can be another good option, too. 

Do you mind me asking what kind of work he's looking to get into?

He may like to access one of our employment services, too, if he's interested.

timberzz

Hello @Tori_Scope and @poppy123456

Thank you for the reply.

He is looking to get into Early Years Educator work on a part time basis.

His worry is that as the wages are low, if he transitions into working part time and they stop his universal credit (whether automatically or because they then declare him fit to work) that he will not only be worse off during the cost of living crisis but will have to go back into full time work and not be able to manage given his condition.

Any advice greatly appreciated,

poppy123456

I can't give any advice on the work contradicting the reasons why he was found to have LCWRA because i don't know anything about his conditions or the reasons why he was found to have this.

UC doesn't just stop because you start working, any earnings outside of the work allowance will reduce his UC by 55%.

He would need to be reassessed for a new decision to be made before they find him fit for work. Lots of people that have LCWRA work.