LCWRA back payment

Sal1977
Sal1977 Online Community Member Posts: 4 Listener
in Universal Credit (UC)
Evening everyone,

So, I'm sure this has been asked a million times before but I just want to be absolutely clear on what's happening

I had my Work Assessment interview over the phone on Tuesday 7th March,  On Friday 10th March( 2023) I got a call from a lovely chap called John who advised that I had been accepted to receive LCWRA (higher rate if that makes a difference),  

He went into detail of waiting 3 months for the first payment, but then said I was also entitled to a backdated payment and that would be in my account by this Thursday (16th March).

Having read through some of the discussions on here, my question is - is he giving me the correct information and I've just been incredibly lucky to get it quickly... or is he talking a load of twaddle?

For clarity, my first fit note was recorded on my journal 6th December 2022, which works out to be a few days over the 3 month period.

Thanks in advance for any advice

(And if I do get it Thursday, doughnuts are on me!!)

Kindest Regards

Sally

Comments

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    There's no higher rate of LCWRA, it's just one rate £354.28/month. The extra money isn't paid at all during the waiting period, which is 3 full assessment periods. It's then paid from the 4th month of your claim. Starting from when you first reported your health condition, supported by a fit note within 7 days of that.

    What date do you usually receive your money each month?
  • Sal1977
    Sal1977 Online Community Member Posts: 4 Listener
    Hi Poppy, and thanks for the speedy response!

    I get UC on the 26th of the month.  

    Sorry for the confusion, I started a PIP claim at the same time that my work coach told me I needed my assessment, so any conversations regarding the 2 awards get me even more confused. Add two cancer surgeries in the last month to the list and I'm more than a little bewildered.

    So, this is definitely LCWRA because I got a standard letter (no details of payments etc) put on my journal straight after the telephone call.

    OK, so my next question is, why would he make a point of saying 3 months for the standard payment but my backdated payment will be in my account this Thursday? I even questioned the speed of that, but he was adamant that anything classed as backdated will be in my account this week.

    I swear people try and confuse me on purpose sometimes.

    Regards
  • Sal1977
    Sal1977 Online Community Member Posts: 4 Listener
    PS if I don't respond immediately, it's because the pain meds have kicked in and I've fallen asleep.


  • calcotti
    calcotti Online Community Member Posts: 10,001 Championing
    Sal1977 said:
    ..OK, so my next question is, why would he make a point of saying 3 months for the standard payment but my backdated payment will be in my account this Thursday? 
    When did you first report your health condition?
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    edited March 2023
    Sal1977 said:

    For clarity, my first fit note was recorded on my journal 6th December 2022,

    Did you report your health condition at the same time as this and was this the date you reported your firt fit note?
    If so then your waiting period will be Dec to March.. LCWRA starts from assessment period 20th March to 19th April and your first LCWRA payment will be 26th April. No LCWRA element is owed.

    If you or your partner (if you claim with one) were receiving earnings from working since you reported your health condition then you will be entitled to the work allowance. (unless you were previously entitled to it because you have children on your claim) This means you can receive a certain amount of earnings each month before the 55% deductions apply.

    If you claim for help with the rent it will be £344/month, if you don't it will be £373/month. The work allowance will apply from the assessment period in which you reported the changes (December) so they may owe you some money for this.

    If there's any money owed it will be paid separately to your usual monthly money.
  • Sal1977
    Sal1977 Online Community Member Posts: 4 Listener
    Thanks everyone - sorry for the delay in responding, I've been "parenting" - I'm exhausted...

    I don't remember when I first told the JC about my condition but it was definitely before I sent in my first fit note.

    I'll just wait and see. I'm not going to hold my breath about Thursday.

    Again, thanks everyone x
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    If you reported your health condition on your journal then it will tell you on there when it was reported. As well as the date you sent your first fit note.

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