Going back to work - a few questions

Sprezzatura
Sprezzatura Online Community Member Posts: 2 Listener
in Universal Credit (UC)

Hi! First post here, bit nervous!

I’ve been out of paid work for 2 years and I’ve been really fortunate to be able to access all the benefits I’m entitled to - UC LCWRA and housing costs, PIP and council tax relief - without too much hassle. I had an appointment with a benefits advisor from my housing association and it looks like if I go back to work - the two jobs I’m looking at are both 2 days a week, so hopefully manageable - I’ll actually be slightly better off than I am now, which was a bit of a (nice) surprise!

I’m looking for a couple of bits of advice:

  • Does anyone have experience of going back to work while on LCWRA? Is it likely it will be stopped at some point / should I expect a WCA? My condition is lifelong and I’m not sure I’ll be able to work full-time again. I’m also worried about what might happen if I try working and it doesn’t work out. I read somewhere that people in the LCWRA category will never be assessed again - has that been implemented yet / would I always keep some of my LCWRA providing I don’t earn more the main UC cut-off?
  • Any advice on how to approach the JobCentre? I’ll be honest, I’m pretty scared of them. Is it better to ask for an appointment to tell them I’m going back to work or just report it online? I always want to be honest but sometimes that ends up not going very well for me…
  • Is there anything I might not have factored in? I wouldn’t get free prescriptions anymore but I can get a prepayment certificate like I had before… I currently get 50% off from the water company because I earn under £18,000 but if I went back to work would they just take into account my new earnings (£10,260/year) or look at my benefits too? Anything else I might have forgotten?


Thanks so much and I’m sorry for the long post! Any advice would be really appreciated 😊

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Comments

  • Sprezzatura
    Sprezzatura Online Community Member Posts: 2 Listener
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/921772#Comment_921772

    Thanks so much for this and the good wishes - sorry, I meant I am applying for both jobs but will only do one. I couldn’t manage 4 days a week! Access to Work is on my list as soon as I have interview dates - I think that’s the earliest time you can contact them?

    Good point about the UC50 and PIP forms - I hadn’t considered that, thank you. I’m better in some areas than I was 2 years ago, but I’ve also become more aware of the degree to which disability affects me/the support I need - and I’ve developed some physical health problems as a result of treatment for my mental health. I also have 2 diagnoses I didn’t have before, which I know they say aren’t how it’s awarded but I think it does help!

    Thanks so much for the advice and encouragement 😊

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 62,398 Championing

    Firstly, you won't be called into your local job centre for an interview if you start work and it's unlikely that they would investigate anything. People do work while claiming LCWRA and continue to do so without any issues. Same applies for those claiming PIP, people do work at the same time.

    Yes, you need to be careful that the work you do doesn't contradict the reasons why you're claiming either of those benefits.

    If you do start work you will need to log into your journal (if you have access to one) and report a change of circumstances. Then click work and earnings and tell them you're working through there. You do not need to contact them if you're "looking for work."

    You will have the work allowance and because you're claiming help with your rent your work allowance will be £404/month. For every £1 of earnings you receive each month over that amount your UC will decrease by 55p.

    You do not need to report changes to PIP if you start work because it's not about your ability to work.

    Good luck with the job searches.

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 62,398 Championing
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/921831#Comment_921831

    Blimey your JC must be awful. I've been advising here for several years and can't recall anyone saying they've been called into their JC after starting work while being found to have LCWRA.

    Those people you know have the have LCWRA should definitely go down the complaints route or contact their local MP.

    For yourself, if you are self employed and been found to be gainfully self employed then you should have been given a 12 month start up period so the MIF won't apply in that time. Once a decision is made on your WCA if found to have either LCW or LCWRA it won't apply at all, even after those 12 months.

  • Rachel_Scope
    Rachel_Scope Posts: 1,656 Scope Online Community Coordinator

    Hi @Sprezzatura and welcome to the community. It's wonderful that you feel able to go back into work again and I'm glad you've considered your limitations. Here's the information for Access to Work which may be useful.

    I was also out of work for a few years and worked my way up slowly to more hours. There were setbacks along the way but it's important to remember that that's ok. You need to make sure you're listening to your body and what you are able to cope with. I hope it all works out for you and that you find the right job for you 😊 Will you keep us updated on how you get on?

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 62,398 Championing

    @MissMel are you also aware that you can ask for a different WC? It maybe worth doing this.

  • Pammi4
    Pammi4 Online Community Member Posts: 6 Listener

    hi sorry to jump on here I also have lcwra and have been working 15 hours a week which they knew when I applied for lcwra I now find the pain from my condition too much and want to downsize to 12.5 hours a week I’m trying to stay in the work place for as long as I can my question is when I do change of circumstances for the reduced hours will this trigger a reassessment as I was only granted lcwra in May this year 2024 Thankyou for any advice

  • Emilee
    Emilee Online Community Member Posts: 235 Empowering
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/941433#Comment_941433

    No, this will not trigger a reassessment. I hope the new hours suit you better.

  • Pammi4
    Pammi4 Online Community Member Posts: 6 Listener

    Thankyou so much Emilee for answering yes me too I hope these hours are better awful when we want to work and have worked all our lives then we have these limitations it’s so frustrating I’m sure a lot of people feel like me about it

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