Universal Credit - Which activity group am I in?

ChrisTucker

Hi everyone. Been suffering from depression for a long time, have a statement from my doctor saying I'm not fit for work, and was told to apply for ESA. Turns out, ESA has been replaced with Universal Credit, so I applied for that instead.

I had my first meeting on Friday, and explained a bit about my situation. I got the impression that the other person didn't quite know how to handle it. At one point during the meeting, he called over a colleague. I couldn't quite make out everything they were saying, but it seems he asked her if they could swap due to my situation, but she told him to "just put in health issues", "just make sure he submits a fit note", etc. It seemed like he didn't know what to do and she was telling him how to handle it.

So after that, the person referred me to their "Work and Health Programme" (whatever that is), and said I just need to come back in next month to see how things are going. He told me I'd need to go on the Universal Credit website and agree to the commitments.

When I got home, I looked at the commitments, and what I saw seemed a bit strange to me. But having never used Universal Credit before, I don't know if this is normal or not. So here's how it shows up for me...


i.imgur.com/U2U4l97.png


As you can see, it looks a bit contradictory, saying that I'll look for work and that I'm available for job interviews, but also that I'll do 0 hours of work and that I'm looking for a "Health Issues" job.

On one hand, it looks like I'm in the "no work-related requirements" group, as I don't have to do anything aside from the Work and Health Programme thing. On the other hand, it looks like I'm in the "all work-related activity" group, as the very first thing in bold says I'll do everything I can to find work.

I'm rather confused at this, and don't know if this is normal, or if the work coach person messed it up as they didn't seem to even know how to handle this in the first place.

Could anyone with some more experience let me know please? There's a big difference in how much I'd get paid depending on which activity group that I'm in, so I want to make sure I'm in the right one. I know I can post a message on the journal and ask the work coach, but I'm a bit hesitant to do so. I'd like to check here first.

Thanks.

NedS

Hi Chris,

You are in the all work related requirements group, and this is correct.

You will be required to provide fit notes from your GP as you are currently unfit for work. This allows your work coach to apply discretion as to what he asks you to do on your commitments. It would appear your work coach wasn't particularly confident as to what he should be asking you to do so has just put zeros in most of the boxes. I wouldn't worry too much about this as he clearly isn't expecting you to be looking for work at present.

You will be required to complete a health questionnaire at some point and then attend a DWP medical at which point they will decide if you are fit for work (stay in all work related requirements), or are unfit for work and moved to another group. This can take 3-6 months. In the meantime it's very important that you continue to provide fit notes to the jobcentre and that you continue to attend any appointments. If you feel unable to attend an appointment due to your health condition, it is important to contact your work coach, preferably before the appointment.

You would only get an additional payment if after your medical they put you in the limited capability for work related activity (LCWRA) group.

Hope that helps.

OAjohn

"I don't have to do anything aside from the Work and Health Programme thing"


Yuo should check if the referral to the Work and Health Programme is voluntary, which from what you have written looks to be the case

DWP provider guidance for the Work and Health Programme.
Chapter 2: Participant identification, eligibility and referral
copy on the .gov .uk site

calcotti

Anyone applying for UC starts off being treated as a Jobseeker until such time as it has been determined that they have a health condition limiting their ability to work. A Fit Note allows the work coach to use discretion but is not enough, in itself, to be considered unfit for work. This is a complete change from ESA where claimants were considered to have Limited Capability for Work until the assessment was carried out.

ChrisTucker

Thanks a lot for your replies. I really appreciate it. So it sounds like there's nothing to worry about then, and this is normal? I don't have to do anything to try to change it, just wait and after a health assessment and so on it'll get adjusted? I was under the impression that the group gets decided in the initial commitments meeting, but I guess that was wrong?


So I suppose this means the initial pay will be smaller. If the group gets changed later, would the pay increase only from that point onwards, or would it be retroactive?

poppy12345

ChrisTucker wrote: »

So I suppose this means the initial pay will be smaller. If the group gets changed later, would the pay increase only from that point onwards, or would it be retroactive?

If you're given LCWRA then you'll receive an extra £336 per month from the 4th month of your claim starting from when you sent in your first fit note.



If you're given LCW then your money will remain the same as it is now.

ChrisTucker

Okay, I think I understand it a bit better now. Thanks a lot!