ESA and LCWRA - does LCWRA replace my ESA or will I receive 3 different payments?

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SammiJay
SammiJay Online Community Member Posts: 4 Listener
edited July 7 in Universal Credit (UC)

Hi

Newbie here. I was recently awarded ESA and PIP and have started receiving payments for these, however I have just been awarded LCWRA and I'm a bit confused. Will this replace my ESA? Or will I now receive 3 separate payments? I was working up until the end of 2024. I'm so worried as my rent has just increased and I have no idea how much money I will be getting or when.

Thanks in advance.

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  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Online Community Member Posts: 4,799 Championing

    Hi,

    Is this LCWRA on Universal Credit or LCWRA on New Style ESA?

  • SammiJay
    SammiJay Online Community Member Posts: 4 Listener

    I don't know because I get UC and ESA at the moment. Ive had 2 separate phone interviews, one for ESA and one was a work commitments assessment which is when I got awarded LCWRA.

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Online Community Member Posts: 4,799 Championing
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1045934#Comment_1045934

    Ok, thank you. If you get UC then the LCWRA will be for that. You will also get LCWRA on NS ESA from the same assessment, but that is generally called Support Group instead.

    So from the info you've provided, I would expect you to keep getting NS ESA every 2 weeks. And that will be topped up by a UC payment once a month. Your rent costs will also be paid with UC through the Housing Element. And you will keep getting your PIP once every 4 weeks as well. So you will get a total of 4 payments each month for most months.

    (There will be one month each year where you get 3x ESA payments and 2x PIP payments because of the way 2 weeks & 4 weeks don't fit perfectly into 12 months)

  • SammiJay
    SammiJay Online Community Member Posts: 4 Listener

    That's great, thank you. So the amount I have just been awarded for LCWRA will that be added on to my UC payment?

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Online Community Member Posts: 4,799 Championing
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1045956#Comment_1045956

    Yes, LCWRA will be an additional £423 a month in your UC payment.

    Your NS ESA will also increase when Support Group is added. You would have been on an assessment rate while waiting. That will now increase to £281.10 per fortnight. However, NS ESA is deducted in full from UC. So you will see a deduction of £609 at the bottom of your UC statement if you keep getting NS ESA.

    (If your NS ESA stops, then you will just get the full amount of UC without any deductions, the overall total will be the same either way).

  • SammiJay
    SammiJay Online Community Member Posts: 4 Listener

    Thank you so much, finally makes sense 😊

  • Mary_Scope
    Mary_Scope Posts: 2,018 Scope Online Community Children and Family Specialists

    A warm welcome to the community @SammiJay

    I see you've already got some excellent advice from OverlyAnxious so I won't add anything else but its lovely to have you here on the community and I hope you find it to be a safe and helpful space😄

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