LCWA

lpt
lpt Online Community Member Posts: 1 Listener
in Universal Credit (UC)

Back pay LCWRA

Hi(

I have a been awarded LCWR, which I’m relived about but they said I’m due no back pay and won’t get my first payment until October.

I have been leaving constant messages on my journal since November informing them I’m unwell, and I have had to take leave from midwifery. This went on for months and as I never thought it would be this serious l, I thought I just had a nasty infection, but after 8 months I got a diagnosis and I’m now on chemo weekly. I didn’t even think or even know anything about this disabilty payments. I assumed I’d be back to work soon.

Even though I have been telling them I’m sick from November as I couldn’t attend meetings. they never talked to me about sick note and assessment as it’s all new to me. I did say multiple times I can get a doc note as I was worried they would sanction me for missing so many apts. But they never asked. After a few months a work coach wrote in my journal that I have been unwell for quite some time and to elaborate on my condition which I did - not once did she mention a fit note or assessment form.

Eventually I found out I needed an assessment and fit notes in June, from a friend. No one from DWP helped or advised me. So now they are saying they will only start paying me from November. Even thought when they finally asked for fit note (after lots of promoting) the GP backdated it to January. So basically a year of money I was entitled too after working my whole life and a midwife for NHS 😡😡

Aren’t these people supposed to be advising us about such things, I was even questioned what was wrong as I had been ill for quite some time. Even then fit note and assessment wasn’t mentioned. How many others are not being helped by the people who are employed by the government to help with this?!!

Do you think I’d be successful trying to fight this?


thank you

Comments

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing

    The waiting period starts from when you provided your first fit note, not the date on it. I agree with you if they had advised you when you first told them about your health conditions then you could have provided a fit note earlier.

    I would advise you to put in a complaint and tell them that because of the lack of advice about fit notes and the work capability assessment you have now lost out on some money. If you were given some advice you would have provided a fit note earlier. See link for information about how to make a complaint.

    https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/benefits/how_to_complain_about_universal_credit

  • Jimm_Alumni
    Jimm_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 5,717 Championing

    Hi @lpt, welcome to the community. I'm really sorry to hear about what's happened with Universal Credit here. They really should have been advising you on what to do when you first became seriously ill. Poppy has linked a good resource on complaining about this. Do you have anyone who can help support you through this? I know it can be a lot having to deal with this as well as chemo and more!

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