Lcwra confusion

Nez
Nez Community member Posts: 5 Listener
in Benefits and income

Hi I've been assessed as being entitled to lcwra, my first sick note went in halfway through January, ran out 30th April when I supplied another one for another three months, had my decision on it a couple of weeks ago, does this mean I'll get extra money on top of my universal credit, and if so how long does it usually take to start getting any extra, and is it paid on the same time as universal credit is paid, I had my normal uc paid today, but confused how it all works. Thanks in advance.

Comments

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 59,054 Championing

    LCWRA element is part of UC and increases your maximum entitlement by £416.19/month. It’s paid in with your usual monthly payment.

    When it’s paid from exactly will depend on what date exactly you provided your first fit note. If you look through your journal it will tell you what date you provided it.

  • Nez
    Nez Community member Posts: 5 Listener

    Thank you, my first sick note went in on the 15th January, is there an approximate time for when you first start getting the extra payment on top of the normal universal credit, or is it just a case of wait and see.

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 59,054 Championing

    The waiting period is 3 full assessment periods. The extra money is then paid from the 4th month after you provided your first fit note with first payment being the end of that month.

    If payment date is usually 24th of every month then your waiting period will be Jan/Feb, Feb/March, March/April… LCWRA starts from 18th April to 17th May and first payment would be 24th May.

    Are you sure it was the 15th January you provided your first fit note? It’s the date you provide it that counts and not the date on it.

    Were there any gaps in your fit notes? Gaps can affect when the extra money is paid from.

  • Nez
    Nez Community member Posts: 5 Listener

    No no gaps, my payments of uc are due on the 25th of every month, sorry it was Feb 6th ran out on the 30 April where another was supplied straight away for another three months,

    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/867606#Comment_867606

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 59,054 Championing

    I’m confused. You said there were no gaps and then said your fit note ran out on 6th Feb and you provided another on 30th April. That would mean there’s a gap of 13 weeks and for most of the time you didn’t provide a fit note. Even if the fit note was backdated they don’t usually accept that when applying the waiting period.

    This is why you didn’t receive any extra money this month because the gap in your fit notes has affected when the extra money is paid from.

    For this reason they will likely go from when the decision was made and your waiting will apply from then. It will be down to a decision maker to make the final decision. Put a message on your journal and ask about the extra money.

  • Albus_Scope
    Albus_Scope Posts: 6,961 Online Community Coordinator

    Heya @Nez and welcome to the community.

    I can see Poppy is already supporting you, but I just wanted to pop in and say a quick hi. 😁

  • Nez
    Nez Community member Posts: 5 Listener

    No I didn't write it correctly, my first sick note was sent to uc on the 6th Feb, it ran from 6th Feb until 30th April, on 30th April I sent in another one that runs out on the 30th July.

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 59,054 Championing

    oh, I see. That means your waiting period is Feb to May… LCWRA starts from assessment period 19th May to 18th June and first payment will be 25th June. No LCWRA element is owed. Make sure you check your next statement to see if it’s included.

  • Nez
    Nez Community member Posts: 5 Listener

    Thank you

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