How to get LWCRA for mental health?

[Creato]

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?

In my experience it really isn't hard. Over two thirds of people being assessed for work capability will be awarded LCWRA and many of these will be for MH. I am a benefits advisor and almost all my mh clients get awarded it.
make sure you get some help with the UC50 form from CAB or a mental health charity. I really think your GP should also have referred you for more support from social services tbh.

Working in the Advice Sector I speak to people all the time who've got LCfWRA based on Mental Health.

If the GP has signed you off with a fit note you need to let UC know with the start end dates for the note.

That will trigger a Work Capability Assessment (WCA) process. The page below from CA's website will give you a primer on how that works:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/if-youre-sick-or-disabled/getting-universal-credit-if-youre-sick-or-disabled/

As above see if CA or another adviser can help you with the UC50 form.

While there are no 'magic words' that will get you through it it's helpful to have help so that answers focus on what the system is looking for.

Evidence from your GP or other Healthcare Professionals will help fill out what's said on the form.

Don't delay getting this moving. The extra money for LCfWRA reduces dramatically if the effective date of an award is after April 2026. That seems a long way off but becuase there's a wait/assessment phase of three clear UC Assessment Periods we're not as far as you'd think from being stuffed by that change.

Sorry guys I should have given more context.
Thank you guys for your response it's really helpful.

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.