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Original poster

How to get LWCRA for mental health?

13 replies

Creato · 10/10/2025 12:13

I am getting a feeling it is very difficult to get LWCRA for mental health. The last call with the job centre got me in a spin and brought me to a dark place. I have attempted suicide in the past and was in A&E. Currently am overwhelmed with life and everything is impossible. Most days I just feeling like i don't want to do anything. Just stay in bed all day which is difficult being a single parent with a 6 years and 3 year old. This means I am very irritated all day, worrying about everything, scared to even go to the kitchen because they are knives there, driving on the wrong side of the road. I just feel confused all the time. I have been discharged for counselling because am unable to prepare for the sessions because I just can't mentally or physically. I have depression and am on citalopram 40 mg.

I saw my GP yesterday and this is what he said on my medical report:

" History: v low, crying, poor hygiene,althoguh helping kids,
worries jobcentre will force her to work,
struggling to look after herself,
Examination: poorly dressed, stained clothes , good eye contact tearful
Plan: up dose of citalopram to one tablet of 40 mg,
I will sign her off, she assured me will do her best to look after kids and herself,
will make appt f2F "

My question is, is what my doctor said going to go against my claim what UC say my medical report notes, and is there any hope of getting LWCRA for mental health?

OP posts:
UnderMedicatedMum · 10/10/2025 14:21

Has anyone done a social services referral to get you extra support for your children? Sounds like you are unable to care for them and honestly you sound like a risk to their wellbeing. Do you have anyone who could care for them temporarily whilst you focus on your health?

You need to go back to therapy, if you’ve refused help, that will go against you.

Thistooshallpsss · 10/10/2025 14:25

You need to look at the criteria for lcwra citizens advice can point you in the direction of these. There is also a clause about how if being made to do work related tasks puts you or someone else at risk. It’s not easy have you filled in your uc50 yet? Or had an assessment? Definitely get some help with this.

KurtCobainLover · 10/10/2025 14:25

I receive LCWRA for mental health and I had to supply a lot of paperwork, I submitted all my care plans from the mental health team and was brutally honest when I filled out the form.

Are you getting any support from anywhere? When I was really bad my DC went to stay with their dad for a month so I could start new medication and counselling.

CandleMug · 10/10/2025 14:26

What’s LWCRA?

I’m very surprised there has been no social service referral as you don’t sound like you’re coping at all.

How would you feel if they said the children had to go somewhere else to live until you feel well again?

I’ve just googled it actually.

Thistooshallpsss · 10/10/2025 14:29

So for universal credit you are either fit for work or placed in the lcw group which means you need to prepare for work eg do courses prepare a cv etc or placed in the lcwra group which basically means no work related demands are placed on you. Similar for new style ESA

YourPeppyAmberTraybake · 10/10/2025 14:30

Just answer the questions honestly.

caringcarer · 10/10/2025 14:37

If you can't face going into the kitchen how are you caring for your DC? Is there anyone who can come to stay with you to support caring for your DC. They are too young to manage alone.

Lougle · 10/10/2025 14:39

@Creato Are you on Universal Credit? If, when you applied, you said that you were unable to work, that should have triggered a work capability assessment (WCA). If you didn't say that, but now have a fit note, you need to report it as a change in your universal credit journal. That will then trigger the WCA. You'll be sent a UC50 form, which asks questions about your health. You return this with any evidence you have. Then you may be invited to an assessment, either face to face, virtually, or by phone. Then they will decide if you have LCW or LCWRA.

ComfortFoodCafe · 10/10/2025 14:42

Whose looking after dc if you cant face going into the kitchen? Im sorry but your post is quite worrying. Are you managing to meet their needs? DWP have a duty to tell social services if they have concerns.

Lightuptheroom · 10/10/2025 14:57

It's mainly dependent on the professionals reports. My step son has now been LCWRA for 8 years. Do be aware that the government are phasing out the LCWRA group next year, so I'm not sure what this does for new claimants. It sounds like you need to be assessed for PIP and if you're finding things difficult in relation to caring for your children then a referral for an Early Help plan would also be a good idea

Original poster
Creato · 10/10/2025 15:30

Sorry guys I should have given more context.

Thank you guys for your response.
This is what has happened so far:
For the last 6 months I have been handing in sick notes given by the GP.
I have completed my UC50. which I have sent back about 2 months ago. Finally got the assessment which is on Tuesday next week.

Caring for my DC:
I have been caring for them with help from friends sometimes. I have been coping ok with some challenges. I have been seeking help, talking to my GP once or twice a month. I have been taking my meds and counselling (until last week when my counselling was stop). My DCs are really bringing me joy, and I want to get better for them. The job centre is my major source of stress at the moment, and financially they are my source of help. So basically they have me by the balls.

What has really brought me to my knees is the Job Centre and the prospect that I would have to look for work if am found fit for work even though currently am struggling with daily activities. This fear of looking for work is what's brought so much anxiety and feeling that I won't be able to cope with the challenges ahead and brought me to a dark place. So for the last month or so I have been battling with this anxiety on top of my depression. And this is where I feel like I can't cope with work depends, and if I was put in that position I am really frightened with how I could cope with that.

The examples of what I give was on a bad day when I spoke to the job centre, and they asked if I was looking for work and sent me a work commitment to sign that I would be looking for work. My kids are being cared for and are going to school. It's just when; any change or challenge to my routine, and I just start spinning. That's why I really just want to be in LWCRA until I get better and can deal with normal challenges. Continue taking my med and also go back to counselling which I have applied again.

OP posts:
Lightuptheroom · 10/10/2025 15:40

The best you can do at the moment is do the assessment on Tuesday, they will send you the outcome. If you are on fit notes then they can't decide that you're fit for work, but there is a possibility they MAY and I do say MAY place you in the limited capability to work group, which still means that they would refer you for training courses etc and doesn't attract the extra money that Limited capability to look for work and work related activity does. In my step sons case, he has suicidal thoughts and is on mitazapine and another tablet as well. He's single, but still goes out socialising etc. So, best to wait and see what the assessor says. I feel for you and its easy for me to say it, but the assessment is the only way to resolve this x

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