Hi, my name is Topcat71! Can someone explain the 3 month wait for LCWRA?

Hi @Topcat71 - & welcome to the community. LCWRA is an element that's paid on top of your standard allowance. There's 3 full months waiting period before this will be paid. This depends on when you provided your first fit note & when your assessment periods are (or you can just say the date you're usually paid). You also should have provided continuous fit notes until you got the decision on your WCA (i.e. 21 Jul), so no gaps from your first fit note. (If you live with a partner that already claims LCWRA, then only one such element is payable for a couple).

If you can let us know these dates someone will be able to work out when you'll get your first payment. Once in payment you'll receive this extra LCWRA element of £416.19 each month until a decision is made on a future WCA. Altho it says you'll be reviewed in 12 months time that won't necessarily happen as it's an ongoing award until a new decision might be made.

So,

Date first fit note

Dates of your assessment periods, or when you're usually paid

Was the 6th June the date you provided that fit note? Can you please confirm that you didn't provide a fit note before that date?

If you didn't then your waiting period for the LCWRA element will be as follows.. June/July, July/August, August/Sept… LCWRA element starts from 17th Sept to 16th October and first payment will be 23rd October. You are not owed any LCWRA element, this is because it's not paid at all during the waiting period.

As you're receiving earnings from working, if you didn't previously have the work allowance then you will now be entitled to that. If you don't claim for help with any rent then your work allowance will be £673/month. This means you can receive that much earnings before any deductions apply. The work allowance will apply from assessment period 17th May to 16th June so you will be owed some money from that.

PIP will continue as normal.

If you give up work then your UC will still include the standard allowance of £393.45/month, Then from your October payment it will be an extra £416.19/month. With no earnings the work allowance will be irrelevant. You will not be expected to attend any appointments.