Would I be entitled to LCWRA? have been on LCW for 5 years

[sprinklesandshines]

Hi guys. So when I first went on UC 5 years ago when I was 25, I explained my medications I was on and conditions. One of them is epilepsy meds. My seizures were controlled by my meds back then. I had small focal seizures but no tonic clonic ones. I hadn’t had a tonic clonic seizure since I was 13. I believe I didn’t mention the focal seizures to the job centre as I felt like I’d be kicking up a fuss plus my dad did my application while I just sat there as I wasn’t good on the phone . I wasn’t on ADP (Scottish PIP). I am also autistic. I was awarded UC with LCW. I have diagnosed depression (was on Prozac) and I am on methadone prescriptions as through my doctors prescription I got addicted to heavy opiate painkillers. I never bought anything off the street, never did heroin please don’t judge me. I’ve since weaned down a LOT on the methadone- was on 40ml then and now on 14.

fast forward to 2022 and my seizures came back. I was hospitalised twice for tonic clonic seizures that resulted in status epileticus once in 2022 and once in 2023. I haven’t had a Tonic clonic seizure since late 2023 however my focal seizures are a bit worse. Me and my neurologist are still trying to figure out the right dose of my new medication which I went on in 2022 after my TC seizure.

I don’t get hospitalised after my focal fits so no way of proving them but I have a note from my epilepsy team saying that’s why they are still changing my dose about

I am no longer on antidepressants and haven’t been for about 8 weeks as they were making me have bad urine retention, and I’ve exhausted all the different kinds I can take with my epilepsy meds. I still haven’t updated them on this however I am still diagnosed with depression

I didn’t inform the job centre my seizures came back as I didn’t realise LCWRA was a thing.

i applied for ADP in 2023 and was awarded it in 2024. Lower daily living amount, higher mobility amount. I have a bus pass however tend to use Taxi’s to medical appts incase i risk having a seizure on the bus. Cannot drive due to epilepsy/still having focal fits.

anyway, I’ve applied for LCWRA and I just want to know what my chances are. The money would really come in handy for the travelling to frequent medical appointments and when I need to travel to pharmacy to get my medication.

I realise I should’ve informed the job centre when my fits came back but I just didn’t think.

please don’t judge me

You need to start the process again and declare a change in health and hand in fit notes again if you haven’t done so already. However no one here would be able to tell you if you are eligible. You need to read the descriptors for LCWRA to see how many of them you are likely to meet.
https://www.turn2us.org.uk/get-support/information-for-your-situation/work-capability-assessment/limited-capability-for-work-related-activity

I would still e getting my UC while it’s investigated surely

Your UC will continue as normal but as I said you’ll need to start the process again. Hand in fit notes - UC won’t accept fit notes for the condition for which you’ve already been awarded LCW for. Wait for UC50 to be sent out if you require an assessment wait for an assessment

Thanks. So I will need new fit notes for the same conditions?

This advice is wrong. Spoke to JC and those on LCW don’t have to give fit notes at all even if a health issue already declared has gotten worse. Please do not give false advice

I’m not wrong you need to report a change in health and provide a fit not to be put toward for re assessment if you think you should have LCWRA.
page 4 :
data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2023-0365/180_Work_Capability_Assessment_outcomes_V16-0.pdf

This is a very out of date article. LCW no longer pays the amount it says here unless you received UC before 2017. those like me who are on LCW and UC since 2020 get the standard UC amount. I am on LCW and was never required to show a fit note to begin with. But I digress.

i have spoke to several work coaches including verified sources online and gov uk over the phone, and all have said I don’t have to hand in fit notes from a transition from LCW to LCWRA. whether this is a recent change or not I don’t know.

Fit notes are only for people who haven’t been through the WCA journey already whereas I have.

You would need to have another WCA. It is normally triggered by sending in sick notes, but as you are LCW then you wont have to do that.
Can you send a message on your journal saying your health conditions have worsened, and ask for the UC50 form?
No one can say what your chances are of getting LCWRA once you have been assessed. If you can. get some help filling in the forms from CAB, or if you have any sort of support workers. Just be honest and say how things are.

Thankyou. I have informed my journal of this and they’ve suddenly cancelled my next appointment with them- I’m supposed to go every month. Do I definitely need to ask for that form or should I wait for them to offer it to me? I’ve asked for a re referral

Yes, you will have had to inform them that your health conditions have worsened and you want to be reassessed.
You could be waiting a while as there is a huge backlog.

Done that they didnt reply and instead just cancelled my upcoming appointment with them. Presumably they’ll offer me the uc50 form rather then me asking for it?

there’s a lot of crossed out replies because they asked for a fit note and I had to correct them saying I didn’t need it. They didn’t reply at all instead just cancelled my appointment