Hi, my name is Headcook! LCWRA: when can I expect first payment please?

Headcook

Hello 
Can I ask for advise 

been assessed lcwra 
September 9th 2022

sending sick notes since April 26th 2022 valid from April 02 2022

assessment period is 20th to 19th of month 
when can I expect first payment please
and will this mean I’m owed and back payment

thank you so much 

calcotti

You reported health condition in April to May period. You will not be paid until the August to September period payable on 26th September. So you should see the LCWRA element in your next October statement and will be owed one month of arrears which will be paid separately. It some cases this may affect your entitlement in earlier months too (if you were receiving any earnings in those earlier months and don't already have a Work Allowance set against those earnings).

Headcook

Thank you 
last earnt small amount of money in may payment 
and have had no work allowance set yet as only notified 4 days ago so guess it’s early days 
will your advise be different now based on this info 

thank you 

calcotti

Headcook said:

last earnt small amount of money in may payment 
and have had no work allowance set yet as only notified 4 days ago so guess it’s early days 
will your advise be different now based on this info 

What happens is that you will have LCWRA status from April. UC have to calculate your entitlement for each month going back to then they then compare your entitlement with what they have paid you and pay you the difference. In any month in which you had earnings the Work Allowance will mean that some of the earning (or all of them if low) and therefore the earnings deduction will be lower. As a result in that month the UC entitlement would be higher than previously paid.

The earlier advice is unchanged but what it means is atet your arrears will be more than just the one month of the lCWRA element itself.

When they recalculate the amounts they will change the statements in your UC journal to show the new calculations. You may wish to download the existing statements now so that you can compare them should you wish/need to.

Headcook

Thank you 

yes I will do as you recommend and download the payments as they are now before this gets updated 

thank you so much 

Headcook

So update
due october money this week checked statement and there is no extra money for lcwra 
put query on my journal and got told I’m on waiting time from 9th September date decision was made and not based on sick note dates 
work coach agrees it’s wrong but guy on journal says no and has sent it to a decision maker 
how does this work and how much longer will this take please 
I feel they have ignored sick notes from 2 nd April 
I have been to gp and got copies of sick notes going back till then and have sent them to them again 
any help or advice would be great thank you 

poppy123456

Headcook said:

put query on my journal and got told I’m on waiting time from 9th September date decision was made and not based on sick note dates 

That's not correct. They very often get this wrong which is very frustrating to think they don't even know their own rules! The waiting period starts from when you reported your health condition, supported by a fit note within 7 days.

Headcook

Thank you 
yes I agree having read many posts on here previous I new when I viewed my statement this morning and there was no extra payment that it was infact happening to me also 
I reported a health change on 26th may 2022 and my journal recorded effective from 2nd of April which is date valid of first fit note
so I was expecting a payment this month if I’m correct on that ??
just exhausted with all this 
and worrying how long can this take now moving forward 
we rely on this to be got right 
we really should not be telling them how there own rules work 
what is even a decision maker ??
do they even no the rules 
desicion letter UCD81 clearly states in black and white extra money is awarded 3 months after you first gave evidence 
I even doubt myself now 
are they infact correct ?

calcotti

Headcook said:

I reported a health change on 26th may 2022 and my journal recorded effective from 2nd of April which is date valid of first fit note

The start date for the calculation will be based on when you reported your health condition on 26th May, not to an earlier date even if the Fit Note starts from 2nd April.

EDIT: Before you said you reported on 26th April in which case that will be starting date.

poppy123456

If you reported your health condition on 26th May and your assessment periods are 20th to 19th of each month then you reported it in the middle of the AP which doesn't count.

Therefore your waiting period will be June/July, July/Aug, Aug/Sept..LCWRA starts from AP 20th Sept to 19th Oct to your first payment should indeed have been this month.

Therefore, they are incorrect to tell you that it starts from when the decision was made.

A decision maker is someone from DWP that makes decisions.

Headcook

Thank you poppy 
yes I was expecting my first payment this month 
my payment day is 26 th 
and journal gives amount on 20th of month 

so a decision maker isn’t independent then ?
just worried that they too will give wrong information 
it seems pretty common also
and nothing is being learnt on there part if this is a reaccuring problem with many 
my work coach put me forward for this after my heart attack 
and the world of benefits is a very bewildering place to find myself and full of others making mistakes 
and the wait it stressfull
does anyone no how long the wait may be now please 

poppy123456

Headcook said:

so a decision maker isn’t independent then ?

No, as i advised they work for DWP.

Headcook said:

does anyone no how long the wait may be now please 

If the decision maker still says no then you can proceed to request the Mandatory Reconsideration. The decision for this can take up to 12 weeks.

calcotti

Still not clear whether OP reported the health condition on 26th April or on 26th May.

Headcook

I checked journal and it was 26 th
may I report health condition 
when you click on this now it says 
Has condition that limits work capability from 2nd June 
calcotti does this make a difference 
asking regards your post to me ?

Headcook

Error 
2nd April not 2nd of June 
my mistake 

calcotti

If you reported on 26th May I can’t understand why they are saying LCWRA from 2nd April.

I would LCWRA status from 20th May (start of the assessment period) with LCWRA element payable for 20th September to 19th October. As advised by poppy.

Headcook

Yes this is what I expected 
viewed statement today for payment on 26th October 
no extra payment 
I Put message on journal  to query no payment  be told 
3 month waiting starts 9 th sept 
date of decision from them. 

So this would mean no payment from them till the new year 

calcotti

They’re wrong. If necessary do MR, as advised.

Headcook

Thank you all 
I’ve taken on board all the advice 
here’s hoping for the right outcome from them and soon 
Else there no point to this process as I will end up waiting for payment in the end and it just puts a mockery on the extra money and the entire process for people that can’t help being unwell
would rather be in work given choice 

Headcook

Just found this that proves that they have got my claim wrong 
perfect examples 

poppy123456

You were already advised that UC are incorrect with their decision not to pay you the extra money this month.