Can someone help me understand lcwra

Jwc20
Jwc20 Online Community Member Posts: 7 Listener
in Universal Credit (UC)
Hello all, I'm new here and was hoping someone could help me  to understand what will happen regarding me getting lwcra today please?
I have been off work since 23rd march 2022 with sick note ever since then, but I didn't know I had to let universal credit know until 9th August 2022, so that is when I first informed them of my health condition and my first doctors note. I had my work capability assessment 2 weeks ago and found out today that I have been given the Lcwra element. What does this mean? I understand its £343, is this added onto my allowance ie, like our standard allowance and then my husband earns his money and its the 55p for every pound on that? Or is it an extra £343? Sorry if that doesn't make much sense but I really struggle explaining and understanding things.
Also as I said I first informed them on 9th August, my assessment period is 8th to 9th and my payment is 15th of the month. When will I expect to receive anything that is given to me and would there be any back pay at all?
Thankyou for reading and any help I receive on this 🙂

Comments

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,456 Championing
    The LCWRA element is £354.28/month and is paid from the 4th month after you reported your health condition. This is because there's a full 3 month assessment period waiting time and the extra money isn't paid during this time.
    This means your waiting period is Aug/Sept, Sept/Oct, Oct/Nov... LCWRA starts from assessment period 9th Nov to 8th Dec and your first payment will be 15th Dec.
    If you didn't previously have the work allowance you will now have that as well. This means that a certain amount of earnings can be received each month before the 55% deductions apply. The work allowance will start from the assessment period in which you reported your health condition. (9th Aug)
    If you claim for help with your rent then it's £344/month, if you don't it £573/month.
    It may also be worth you putting in a complaint because you weren't advised to report your health condition in March. Had you been advised this then your wait wouldn't have been so long.
  • Jwc20
    Jwc20 Online Community Member Posts: 7 Listener
    Thankyou so much poppy123456 that's really helped me understand more. What is the work allowance? I've never heard of that before. We have a mortgage is that £573 for that? Being on universal credit is quite new to me and I've struggled to understand it all. And only got it after being told twice that I couldn't get it by getting in touch with a debt advice service. Thank you so much for all the information you have given me, its really helpful. 🤗 
  • Jwc20
    Jwc20 Online Community Member Posts: 7 Listener

  • Jwc20
    Jwc20 Online Community Member Posts: 7 Listener
    I thought it might be helpful to show what I currently get. My husband works and I don't. 
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,456 Championing
    edited November 2022
    As you have children on the claim then you will already have the work allowance. The work allowance means that for you £573 of earnings received (you or your partner) is disregarded before the deductions apply. It's not actual money towards anything. See link. https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/how-your-earnings-affect-your-payments
    Going by that screenshot, now you've been found to have LCWRA your maximum UC entitlement will now increase to £1,414.58, before deductions.
    Do you claim either daily living PIP or DLA mid/high rate care?

  • Jwc20
    Jwc20 Online Community Member Posts: 7 Listener
    I did apply for pip but was refused and it was too stressful to re apply for me. I also didn't get an appointment date and time, they just phoned me out of blue and I wasn't prepared at all for the phone call and got really flustered. 
    Can you help me with some maths? With the new element of lcwra, £1414.58, what would we get on a 4 Friday month with a total of £1664 wages and a 5 Friday month of £2080 wages because I really struggle to work it out. Thankyou so much poppy123456 for helping me with all this I really appreciate it. 
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,456 Championing
    You're welcome. Earnings of £1664 - £573 Work allowamce (WA) = £1,091 x 0.55= £600.05 deductions. Maximum UC entitlement £1,414.58 =£814.53 UC payment.
    Earnings of £2080.. worked out the same way as above will see a UC payment of £585.73.
    You will of course have your partners earnings on top of those amounts.
  • calcotti
    calcotti Online Community Member Posts: 10,000 Championing
    edited November 2022
    Jwc20 said:
    Can you help me with some maths? With the new element of lcwra, £1414.58, what would we get on a 4 Friday month with a total of £1664 wages and a 5 Friday month of £2080 wages because I really struggle to work it out. 
    I infer that he is paid weekly.

    Maximum UC = £1,414.58.
    wage is £1,664. £573 is disregarded. Earnings taken into account £1,091. Earnings deduction is 55% = £600.05 so UC payable is £814.53.

    Maximum UC = £1,414.58.
    wage is £2,080. £573 is disregarded. Earnings taken into account £1,507. Earnings deduction is 55% = £825.85 so UC payable is £588.73.
  • Jwc20
    Jwc20 Online Community Member Posts: 7 Listener
    Thankyou so much for explaining that and showing me how it's worked out. That's really helpful. I've never understood how to work it out. 
  • Jwc20
    Jwc20 Online Community Member Posts: 7 Listener
    Wow, you have both been so helpful. Thankyou so much for this. 🤗
  • calcotti
    calcotti Online Community Member Posts: 10,000 Championing
    edited November 2022
    Correction - there's a typo in the second calculation. Should read:
    Maximum UC = £1,414.58.
    wage is £2,080. £573 is disregarded. Earnings taken into account £1,507. Earnings deduction is 55% = £828.85 so UC payable is £585.73.
  • L_Volunteer
    L_Volunteer Community Volunteer Adviser, Scope Member Posts: 7,922 Championing
    You are welcome @Jwc20. It is the very least you deserve.

    Please don't hesitate to let us know if there's anything else we can do to support you. We are all here for you and listening to you  :)

Categories