Moving from LCW to LCWRA

Rcoop45
Rcoop45 Online Community Member Posts: 5 Listener
edited May 17 in Universal Credit (UC)

HI, I was recently awarded LCWRA and had been on LCW previously for over 2 years.

I was advised by my therapist and work coach to update a change of condition as I had became worse and had a new diagnosis for PTSD and Trauma.

The letter posted on my journal states I do not have to submit any fit notes but within a section for payments it states the first payment will be 3 months from when I submit a fit note.

Is this correct? Do I need to see my Dr for a fit note. My work coach has told me I do not need one and he also checked with a colleague too. Just the letter says otherwise hence my confusion

The letter also says "may get extra money" does this mean on LCWRA I may not actually get any extra money?

Also does the new payment (if i am entitled to this) back date to when I added change of condition or from next payment?

Thank you

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Comments

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Online Community Member Posts: 4,441 Championing

    Hi,

    The fit note thing doesn't apply to you because you were previously on LCW. You don't need to get a fit note.

    LCWRA is now £423.27 a month. That will be added to your total UC. But if you have Transitional Protection or Carers Element, or you have a partner on LCWRA, then the actual difference you'll see in payments will be less than the full amount.

    Your next UC payment should include LCWRA. Any backdated money will be sent separately and may take a few weeks for them to calculate fully. It should be backdated to the change of circumstances in most cases.

  • chiarieds
    chiarieds Online Community Member Posts: 16,864 Championing

    Hi @Rcoop45 - & welcome to the community.

    You no longer need to provide any fit notes. As you were a;ready found to be LCW, then there's no 3 month waiting period either. So long as you're not living with a partner that already receives the LCWRA element, then the extra money for the LCWRA element is payable from the assessment period in which you reported the change in your circumstances.

    It may take a few weeks for this to be paid, & it's usually paid separately. Check your next statement to check that the LCWRA element has been added.

  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Online Community Member Posts: 5,722 Championing

    Usually when going from LCW to LCWRA backpay only applies if claimant reported the change and submitted continuous Fit Notes alongside.

    If both those conditions are not met then the extra money applies first in the Assessment Period in which the decision was made.

  • Rcoop45
    Rcoop45 Online Community Member Posts: 5 Listener

    Thank you all for the fast replies. I guess I just wait to see what happens with payments.

    Thanks for clearing it up for the fitnotes too. Much appreciated

  • chiarieds
    chiarieds Online Community Member Posts: 16,864 Championing

    i don't think Kimi is altogether correct. The extra LCWRA element is due from the assessment period in which the claimant reported a change. When the DWP rather start a review, then it's from the assessment period in which a decision is made.

  • Rcoop45
    Rcoop45 Online Community Member Posts: 5 Listener

    I have these screenshots from my journal not sure if they help too...

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    So I updated condition around 26th Feb. They advised ok to not send fitnote vut the letter said for my awar to LCWRA my payment is from 3 months after fitnote, so I got confused woth this.

    Thanks again I think I don't need fit notes form what you have said, but wondered do I need to ask them if im due any back pay or is it more the extra money is paid going forward. Either way the award will really help me to manage more especially helping my mental health too, one less thing to worry about.

  • chiarieds
    chiarieds Online Community Member Posts: 16,864 Championing

    The extra LCWRA element is paid going forward. Any back pay is paid separately. If you reported the change to your health, then you should have supplied fit notes until a decision was made. However, you have proof that you were wrongly advised not to do so.

    If they don't apply your back pay from the assessment period in which you reported the changes, then I'd query this, & if necessary ask for a Mandatory Reconsideration as to why this hasn't been correctly applied.

    Please see the first example, i.e. F5047 in this link which is just below F5406. You'll need to scroll down to it. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/679cd1e960059d127f7adf33/admf5.pdf

  • Rcoop45
    Rcoop45 Online Community Member Posts: 5 Listener

    Thank you, I will see what comes through in payments and query if needed like you advised.

    Thanks again

  • chiarieds
    chiarieds Online Community Member Posts: 16,864 Championing

    I should have added what the above link meant re: its source, i.e. ADM Chapter F5: 'The LCWRA element' where ADM stands for Advice for Decision Makers so one of the guides that DWP Decision Makers use, so they really shouldn't go against this!

    Kindly let us all know how you get on.

  • Rcoop45
    Rcoop45 Online Community Member Posts: 5 Listener

    Hi Chiarieds,

    I have a new statement on my account and it shows the new payment for this month and also backdated to February when I updated the change of condition.

    Kind regards

  • chiarieds
    chiarieds Online Community Member Posts: 16,864 Championing

    Brilliant news @Rcoop45 - thank you for letting us all know.

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