How does this work for LCWRA/UC?

[kmo0416]

I'm not entirely sure how Universal Credit works so would like some advice.

I first applied for Universal Credit on 17th March of this year. I then got my first payment on the 23rd April and get paid on the 23rd of every month. I don't know what this means in relation to my 'assessment period' whether that means my assessment period is considered to be from the 17th to 18th of every month of the 23rd to 22nd of every month.

I am also on the process of claiming LCWRA (as my work coach recommended I should try to apply for that). I submitted a fit note on the 10th April and it was accepted. I have also filled in and returned a health questionnaire that came by post. I now have a 'work focused interview' booked for next week but I am not sure what will be discussed in it since I have already reported a fit note and my work coach says that this means that as of now I am not expected to search for work so surely the appointment will not be in relation to my progress with searching for work. Any ideas what it could be on?

I have heard about how the next stages of the process have to do with a work capability assessment but why have I still not been scheduled for one or had one despite it being almost two months since I reported my fit note? How much longer will I likely have to wait?

And, finally, if I were to be awarded LCWRA (I know that LCWRA isn't the only option that exists as I could be found capable of work or LCW) - but I were to be found eligible for LCWRA, when would be the exact date based on the information I have stated that I would likely be paid since as I understand it, it is paid with your normal Universal Credit payment? I have heard of a three month wait that needs to take place so if I submitted my fit note on the 10th April and I get paid every 23rd, when would this be?

Fit note submitted in end of August. First payment was with January UC payment on 19th (AP is 12-13), no backpayment. No assessment was required just submitted the forms but I am in receipt of enhanced PIP for both care and mobility.

Your AP (assessment period) is from the 17th of each month to the 16th of the following month - this will show on your statements (so click ‘payments and advances’, then ‘payments’, then 23rd April would be your first AP to click on.

if you are awarded LCWRA, this element only kicks in after the relevant period which is three full aps from which LCWRA was awarded (which is the first day you provided medical evidence of your condition, ie. The fit note). As long as there are no gaps in your fit notes, then LCWRA could be awarded from 10th april, so 10th April to 16th April, not a full AP, doesnt count. Your relevant period would be 17/4 to 16/5 (AP1) 17/5 to 16/6 (AP2) 17/6 to 16/7 (AP3). First potential AP with lwcra element, 17/7 to 16/8 with payment for this on 23rd aug (which is a saturday, so you’d get it friday). Your work coach or case manager should be able to answer any other questions you have (you can interact with them via the journal). If you are not being answered via the journal (ie. 48 hours or two working days has passed, not the weekend or a bank hol) call and ask for a ‘handover’ to be sent - basically this will flag up a bit differently to your journal message, which can be buried within a huge stack of other journal messages…
if you are awarded LCW, this entitles you to a work allowance (so there would be a smaller deduction for earnings) but no ‘LCW’ element as such.. (and yes, and LCW element _did exist once upon a time - very very few people are still in receipt of this and this is where it was awarded I believe pre 2017.. but it might have been earlier than that..

This is so useful! I'm helping someone with applying for lcwra atm and we filled in the work capacity form on 4th March. He has a telephone interview next week, he's too ill to attend. Will it be backdated to 4th March? He's been on fit notes since more or less the beginning of the year although he may have got muddled I do think he's kept them up. He's just been awarded pip (enhanced daily and standard mobility) backdated to early January. I didn't realise uc backdated at all.

Hthats good news :) will v likely backdate the lcwra to where there is continuous fit notes. Good news re pip - your friend would get no non-dep deduction for housing on UC if they do have a non-dep living with them. He will need to wait the ‘three months’ (its almost always closer to five) from the original date lcwra awarded until the lcwra element is added, but a work allowance would kick in immediately

If three full assessment periods would be finished by 17th July, why wouldn't the money be paid on the 23rd July as opposed to an extra assessment period later i.e. on the 23rd August?

Your assessment period would end on 16th July.

It's the date the fit notes were first reported that is important rather than the assessment date. If awarded LCWRA, it would be paid from the fourth full assessment period after first submitting a fit note.

It's tough to work out isn't it?! So, for instance, if there have been successive fit notes since 1st January then it would be backdated to 1st April?

The hypothetical ‘relevant period’ DOES end on the 16th of July. So the 17th July is the first day which (hypothetically!!!) includes the LCWRA element, but (as for eg. Childcare costs) you won’t see the payment for that element (which kicks in 17th july) until the payment date for the 17th July, which is 23rd August (AP 17/7 to 16/8). It can be really REALLY confusing :)
if for whatever reason, it isnt lcwra (given the enhanced pip) then I would ask for a ‘mandatory reconsideration’ (and yes this can take months rather than weeks or days, but some are quicker). If the MR isnt successful, the letter sent will give instructions on how to appeal the MR.
You / your friend may well not need this, but just in case:)

Re, wouldnt 1st Jan make it paid on 1st april? No.. not quite… It isn’t just the straight up ‘three months’ which YES even the bloody letter says three months and it isnt as the relevant period doesnt start until the start of a full assessment period. With the assessment period running 17th to 16th, lets say there were continuous fit notes from 1st jan, so lcwra awarded from 1st jan. 1st-16th jan, dont count, as not a full AP at this stage (16 days is not an AP). Relevant period = 3 full APs: AP1 17/1 to 16/2, AP2 17/2 to 16/3 (so already ‘in March’ ‘from 1st jan’ and we’ve not even finished the relevant period, which is why it is generally ‘fiveish’ months, not three) AP 3 17/3 to 16/4. This means in this hypothetical situation that the first AP to include LCWRA is the 17/4 to 16/5, with payment 23/5 (ie, payment in May, for LCWRA awarded in January)

shout if that still doesnt make sense.. hopefully it does (make sense) at least a bit

Thank you so much for responding, you've given me the most useful information 💐

I do understand now. As ever, it's all weighted not in the claimants favour really. And, it's quite difficult to navigate, especially if one is ill or disabled. Or struggling to engage! I don't know how anyone manages without an advocate.

On the plus side his pip came through so so quickly. The backdated money was there about 3 weeks after the telephone appointment, I was astonished.