Lcwra. My partner works and I claim LCWRA. Will this wipe out any payment?

mandy70
mandy70 Online Community Member Posts: 5 Listener
edited December 2022 in Universal Credit (UC)
Hi my partner works full time and I claim lcwra, I usually get around £450 a month. This month he has some some back pay going on so will this completely wipe out any payment of UC ? I didn't think a partners wages could affect lcwra amounts,thank you.

Comments

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,456 Championing
    LCWRA is part of UC and is one of many elements. Earnings received each month affect the amount of UC you're entitled to outside of the work allowance.
    If the backpay is earnings then yes it will affect the amount of UC you're entitled to in the month it's received.
  • tifo
    tifo Online Community Member Posts: 135 Contributor
    Do a partner's earnings also affect LCWRA payments and not only the main allowance? I thought LCWRA was for not being able to work. A partner earning does not make you better.
  • mandy70
    mandy70 Online Community Member Posts: 5 Listener
    Hi I thought the same, I thought you got the £335 lcwra amount no matter what your partner earns?
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,456 Championing
    edited December 2022
    tifo said:
    Do a partner's earnings also affect LCWRA payments and not only the main allowance? I thought LCWRA was for not being able to work. A partner earning does not make you better.

    Yes of course they do because LCWRA is part of UC. Earnings recieved during your assessment period will affect the amount of UC you're entitled to. LCWRA is not a separate payment.
    If you live with a partner entitlement will depend on joint circumstances.
    mandy70 said:
    Hi I thought the same, I thought you got the £335 lcwra amount no matter what your partner earns?

    That's not correct. As i previously advised here.
    poppy123456 said:
    LCWRA is part of UC and is one of many elements. Earnings received each month affect the amount of UC you're entitled to outside of the work allowance.
    If the backpay is earnings then yes it will affect the amount of UC you're entitled to in the month it's received.

    LCWRA is £354.28/month and not £335.
  • tifo
    tifo Online Community Member Posts: 135 Contributor
    mandy70 said:
    Hi I thought the same, I thought you got the £335 lcwra amount no matter what your partner earns?
    I also thought LCWRA was protected because it's an add on for not being able to work.
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,456 Championing
    tifo said:
    mandy70 said:
    Hi I thought the same, I thought you got the £335 lcwra amount no matter what your partner earns?
    I also thought LCWRA was protected because it's an add on for not being able to work.
    How would that be possible? It’s part of UC which is a means tested benefit. It’s part of your maximum UC entitlement but earnings received affects your whole UC entitlement. Earnings outside of your work allowance will reduce the whole of your award. 
  • tifo
    tifo Online Community Member Posts: 135 Contributor
    poppy123456 said:

    It’s part of UC which is a means tested benefit. It’s part of your maximum UC entitlement but earnings received affects your whole UC entitlement. Earnings outside of your work allowance will reduce the whole of your award. 
    That'll be news to many people who think LCWRA is not reduced because of a partner's earnings.
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,456 Championing
    tifo said:
    poppy123456 said:

    It’s part of UC which is a means tested benefit. It’s part of your maximum UC entitlement but earnings received affects your whole UC entitlement. Earnings outside of your work allowance will reduce the whole of your award. 
    That'll be news to many people who think LCWRA is not reduced because of a partner's earnings.

    In all the years i've posted here i can honestly say i've never seen anyone that's posted saying this. It's quite clear that UC is a means tested benefit so entitlement is based on a couples circumstances.
    That would be like saying that the work allowance only applies to the claimant that has LCW/LCWRA, which isn't correct of course, it applies to the claim.
  • calcotti
    calcotti Online Community Member Posts: 10,000 Championing
    tifo said:
    mandy70 said:
    Hi I thought the same, I thought you got the £335 lcwra amount no matter what your partner earns?
    I also thought LCWRA was protected because it's an add on for not being able to work.
    You are testing LCWRA as if it is a separate benefit. It isn’t, it’s simply part of the calculation of the UC entitlement.

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