LCWRA isn't backdated?

daveq11
daveq11 Online Community Member Posts: 9 Listener
edited September 2024 in Universal Credit (UC)

Hi there,, relatively new to the benefit system. Like many peoples posts I'm confused about the lcwra element assessment period . I was urged to apply for lcwra by CAB and I sent away from the relevant form and I did what had to be done and then received a decision that iv been awarded it . On questioning the assessment period on my journal I was told that I'd have to wait for 3 periods before I was paid any money . So what I'm confused about is that on my first appointment the start of April with my work Coach after i stopped working he went through everything and due to my health he says i was unfit for work to and provided a fit note and have done until I found out I was awarded it .

What I'm confused with is that I thought it was backdated from the actual first fit note and not when I got the form to apply for the lcwra element.

Can anyone help me understand this .

Comments

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

    The LCWRA is awarded from when you provided your first fit note. However, you then had to wait for the relevant period before the extra money is paid.

    This is known as the waiting period, which is 3 full assessment periods and the extra money is paid from the 4th month after you provided your first fit note. It's then paid from the end of that month. The LCWRA element isn't paid at all during this period.

    More information is needed for me to advise when exactly it's paid from.

    1/ What date exactly did you provide your first fit note? Please note, it's the date you provided it and not the date on it that counts.

    2/ What date do you usually receive your money each month?

    If you or a partner were receiving earnings since you provided your first fit note and you didn't previously have the work allowance then you'll be owed some money for that.

  • Jimm_Alumni
    Jimm_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 5,717 Championing

    Hi @daveq11, welcome to the community 😊 The benefits system is quite confusing, so I understand not knowing about the way payments for LCWRA work.

    We can work out when you're likely to be paid if you can answer Poppy's questions 🙂

    Let us know if you do have any other questions. I'm just going to pop this over to our Universal Credit section

  • daveq11
    daveq11 Online Community Member Posts: 9 Listener

    Hi poppy, thank you for helping me understand it all, I sent my first fit note in on the 17th April and had been sending them on ever since I was awarded it ,, the actual award letter is dated 2nd of July as that's when the probably received the form but it wasn't posted upon my journal until 2nd of September. That's why I'm finding it difficult to understand, have they taken it from when I applied for it and thats when the period starts from although I first started to provid fit notes way back in April.

    I get paid on tge 13th of each month.

    Regards David

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

    Your waiting period will be May/June, June/July, July/August.. LCWRA starts from 7th August to 6th September and first payment will be 13th September.

    If you didn't receive the LCWRA element in your last statement then they will owe you for that month. Otherwise no further months are owed.

    If you or a partner were receiving earnings since you provided your first fit note and you didn't previously have the work allowance you will be owed some money from that.

    Any money owed will be paid as a separate payment and often takes quite a few weeks to pay it.

  • daveq11
    daveq11 Online Community Member Posts: 9 Listener

    According to a service advisor for UC they says I was awarded it from June and my first assignment period is July /Aug , this is where I don't understand how it works because all my fit notes sent in have stated the same reason why I'm unfit to work . The mind boggles ,, should I contact the telephone number on the award letter to get some clarification?

    Thanks again

    David

  • daveq11
    daveq11 Online Community Member Posts: 9 Listener
  • daveq11
    daveq11 Online Community Member Posts: 9 Listener

    Good morning,, back again , my payments were reconsidered and took back to when I first put in my sick line in April, however the first payment was then meant to be from assessment period 7th of August to September which was paid a week or so after the appeal was upheld ,,am I not meant to be paid backdated from April to include the 3 month assessment periods? . Can you please advise me if I'm right or wrong.

    David

  • daveq11
    daveq11 Online Community Member Posts: 9 Listener
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing

    The extra money isn't paid at all during the waiting person. This period is 3 full assessment periods starting from when you provided your first fit note. It's then paid from the 4th month, with first payment being the end of that month.

    Your assessment periods are 7th to 6th of every month. The waiting period will be as follows.

    17th April fit note provided. As this is in the middle assessment period 7th April to 6th May, it doesn't count because it's not a full month.

    7th May to 6th June.. 1 month

    7th June to 6th July… 2 months

    7th July to 6th August … 3 months

    LCWRA starts from 7th August to 6th September and first payment will be 13th September.

  • daveq11
    daveq11 Online Community Member Posts: 9 Listener

    Yeah but are the payments not mentioned to be backdated to when I first started putting in sick notes , as in get paid for the assessment period

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

    No, LCWRA is not paid from your first fit note. This is because there's a waiting period before the extra money is paid. Please see my previous comment for all the information.

  • daveq11
    daveq11 Online Community Member Posts: 9 Listener

    Thank you