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I have a telephone assessment for LCWRA next week even though I didn't fill in a questionnaire

Stanley123

Hello,
I have recently had to resign from work due to Parkinson’s, over the past 2 years I have worked limited hours and have not paid NI. I have recently been awarded the higher rate health for PIP and lower rate for mobility. My question is regarding LCWRA, I have a telephone assessment next week even though I didn’t fill in an assessment questionnaire, is this unusual and would I be accepted for the benefit even though my NI hasn’t been paid for 1/2 years?

Many thanks for any advice.

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poppy123456

LCWRA is part of UC, as this is a means tested benefit it has nothing to do with what NI contributions you've paid.

I can't tell you whether you'll be found to have LCWRA because only a decision maker can make that decision. If you are found to have this your maximum UC entitlement will increase by £354.28/month from the 4th month after you reported your health condition.

Stanley123

Many thanks for your swift response,
I assumed that as I am now receiving higher rate health PIP, this would go some way in my favour for the LCWRA decision maker, my partner who earns £100 a week is now claiming Carers Allowance. I didn’t know that it is means tested, does this mean savings of £16.000 and above would be outside the criteria for this benefit.

Stanley123

Following on from above,
I understand that claiming LCWRA under new style ESA is not means tested, is this
right 🤨

poppy123456

Stanley123 said:

Many thanks for your swift response,
I assumed that as I am now receiving higher rate health PIP, this would go some way in my favour for the LCWRA decision maker,

No it doesn't because they are completely different benefits. Being entitled to one doesn't automatically entitle you to the other.

Stanley123 said:

Many thanks for your swift response,
I assumed that as I am now receiving higher rate health PIP, this would go some way in my favour for the LCWRA decision maker, my partner who earns £100 a week is now claiming Carers Allowance. I didn’t know that it is means tested, does this mean savings of £16.000 and above would be outside the criteria for this benefit.

Yes, savings/capital of more than £16,000 means there's no entitlement. For every £250 or part there of over £6,000 there's a £4.35/month deduction. Works pensions and your wifes carers allowance are deducted in full.

Does your UC include the carers element? If not then your wife needs to report a change of circumstances and tell them she's caring for you. This will increase your UC by a further £168.81/month.

Stanley123 said:

Following on from above,
I understand that claiming LCWRA under new style ESA is not means tested, is this
right 🤨

LCWRA is part of UC and not New style ESA. The equivalent for ESA would be Support Group. New style ESA is not means tested but to claim this you will have needed to pay the correct amount of NI contributions in tax years 2019 to 2021, if you haven't paid any for the past 1-2 years then you won't be able to claim it. You would just receive NI credits, if placed into either of the groups.

SueHeath

Morning @Stanley123 welcome to our great group, sorry to hear about your health and haveing to leave work.
We are a great bunch on the forum, all with our own demons, but you will see that the more you join in.
@poppy123456 along with others are our experts in helping and advising us on all claims/benifits and they all do this voluntary. Saying that you might want to have a look under categories there is lots of info on there about benifits.

Stanley123

I can feel the warmth from your kind hearts already, so glad I was brave enough to join this morning.

Stanley123

Hi poppy,
we are not entitled to UC the claim I made online was shut down due to us having £19,000 in savings, however, I explained to them that we are in the process of a house move so that we can be nearer to family for support and that the savings will be swallowed up on the moving fees, this move is due to happen within the next 8 weeks, these fees will amount to approximately £15,000 now that the stamp duty has been reduced. The house we are selling is worth £5000 more than the one we are buying. The UC claim was shut down last week then we promptly received a letter saying a telephone assessment appointment will happen next week! didn’t even fill in a questionnaire, this has perplexed me

poppy123456

If the savings you have are from the sale of a house that you lived in then they can be disregarded for 6 months, sometimes longer. Are you sure you didn't receive a work capability assessment form?

Stanley123

No definitely didn’t receive a form, but discussed on the journal and on a phone call from them about the health and disability situation, during this claim they they even said how much we will be getting ( was around £525 a month) and what date I could expect it, but then, a week before this money was due to go into my account they closed it down saying due to too much funds/ savings.

poppy123456

Are your savings from a recent house sale that you lived in?

Stanley123

No,.. I explained to UC that they are our savings which will be used for fees for our up coming house move, stamp duty, solicitor,estate agent, survey, removals.. this will cost around £15.000, in other words, when we have moved within the next 8 weeks our savings will be around £4000 plus the £5000 from the sale which as you say won’t be counted for around 6 months.

Alex_Alumni

Hello and welcome @Stanley123 I'm glad to see you're finding the forum helpful and welcoming already, well done for taking the leap and posting!

If you'd like to explore the community, please do feel free, here's a few of the best places to get started:

Recent discussions is where you'll find all the latest conversations our members are having
The categories page shows all the different topics for discussion
The virtual coffee lounge is a place to chat, get to know other members, and play games too

I hope this community can act as a place of support for you, and please don't hesitate to reach out if you need anything further.

Alex

poppy123456

Stanley123 said:

No,.. I explained to UC that they are our savings which will be used for fees for our up coming house move, stamp duty, solicitor,estate agent, survey, removals.. this will cost around £15.000, in other words, when we have moved within the next 8 weeks our savings will be around £4000 plus the £5000 from the sale which as you say won’t be counted for around 6 months.

Then they are correct to end your claim because of your savings. The £5,000 from the house sale will not be disregarded because you will have already moved house. They will be included in your savings and for every £250 or part there of over £6,000 there's a £4.35 deduction.

Once you have moved house you will be able to make a rapid reclaim from your journal.

Stanley123

Given that I declared our savings which was the reason why the claim was closed, I’m still unsure why they are doing the telephone assessment next week regarding the lcwra! The savings will not be greatly reduced until the house move is completed in 8 weeks... confused.

poppy123456

As you were probably referred for the work capability assessment quite quickly then it won't stop unless DWP stop it. I'm unsure what will happen after the decision is made because your claim has actually closed.

Stanley123

Okay, I’ll just see what happens after the telephone assessment.. thank you.

Stanley123

Morning, I have my LCWRA phone assessment this morning, am hoping someone can answer this question. My wife has recently been in receipt of Carers Allowance for me as I have been awarded PIP. If I am not successful with LCWRA and and am expected to return to work does this mean her Carers Allowance will be stopped? Am very confused as the Carers Allowance is given for her supporting me 35hrs + a week, therefore why/ how would one be expected to work.

poppy123456

Her carers allowance will not stop if you're found fit for work. The reason she's claiming that is because your PIP includes daily living part,

Can i just make sure that your UC includes the carers element as well? If she's claiming carers allowance, it is just deducted in full from your UC entitlement.

Stanley123

Have just had the phone assessment, it lasted for half an hour and just focused on daily living around my Parkinson’s symptoms, I feel it went very well.

That’s reassuring Poppy about the Carers allowance not being affected due to the outcome of my LCWRA assessment.

I / we are not on UC, the claim was shut down due to savings, however I got a letter a week later about this telephone assessment appointment! I can only guess that as the UC are aware that my savings will be spent within the next 8 weeks when we complete on a house move that they allowed this appointment to go ahead.
i

Alex_Alumni

I'm glad to hear that you feel the assessment went well @Stanley123 that must be a relief!