LCWRA

Amber_M
Amber_M Online Community Member Posts: 3 Listener
in Benefits and income
I’m hoping someone can help me work out my first payment date?
My assessment period is the 7th through to the 6th of the next month 
I handed in my first fit note on 13th Jun 22
They suggested I do the WCA and sent me the paperwork on 29th Jun 
I struggled to do it so we set up an appointment that I had on 5th Dec 
next day I got the letter and journal entry saying I’m on LCWRA and “might” be entitled to extra money. 
I know about the assessment period but I’m not sure when that would apply from as when the first fit note was put in (they never asked for another it lasted 2/3 months?) WCA wasn’t even considered until after. 
I get paid 13th and my December statement doesn’t include a payment for this which is expected as I think it came up out before I was awarded it and I’m sure I wouldn’t be payed that quickly anyway? 

Comments

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    You should have continued to send fit notes without any gaps until a decision was made on the WCA. Any gaps can affect when the LCWRA element is paid from. If there were gaps then it will be down to a decision maker to decide when to start the LCWRA element from.
    Based on the information that you gave your first fit note on 13th June this means your waiting period will be July/Aug, Aug/Sept, Sept/Oct.. LCWRA starts from AP Oct 7th to Nov 6th and first payment would be 13th Nov but as advised but as advised gaps can affect this.
  • Amber_M
    Amber_M Online Community Member Posts: 3 Listener
    Thankyou for your reply! I think I wasn’t asked to continue sending them in because I had started a college course, the fit note was only to tie me over the summer holidays as my son turned 3 and I was required to work, then the Assessment was suggested, I thought about it for a while then actually got a phone appointment but never submitted anything specifically for the purpose of the WCA if you get what I mean. 
    If it is that first fit note they start the waiting period from, or around then, would that not mean I’d get the payment on the 13th of this month with my next universal credit payment? As like yourself I worked it all out to be due around now but thought that’s awfully quick. 
    I guess I’m worried that they’ll start the waiting period from the date we set the appointment or the date we did the assessment which would mean next year. 
    Sorry, long message, do you think I’d get back dated if they do take it from the first fit note? From the time I said yes I want to make an appointment it was quick to actually get the assessment done, just took me a while to agree to it. 
  • Amber_M
    Amber_M Online Community Member Posts: 3 Listener
    Sorry forgot to clarify as well that the time between the assessment and the decision was one day 
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    The extra money isn't paid at all during the waiting period which is 3 full assessment periods from when you reported your health condition/sent your first fit note.
    Your first payment should have been 13th November but as i advised the gaps in your fit notes may affect this.

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