Advised to move from JSA to UC with LCWA

julie237

Hi,

I am a single parent currently on JSA. I have suffered with depression, anxiety panic attacks and IBS for around 10 years now. I applied for ESA in 2017 and failed the WCA. I still suffer greatly with my mental health, and have had a lot of permitted time off from JSA, most recently for bereavement when my mother passed away earlier this year.
Every time I go to my signing appointment it feels like hell for me. I take beta blockers before I go but they seem to not work as well as they once did.
My last sign on I phoned and said I just couldn't make it due to my anxiety and the woman I spoke to suggested I sign on to UC with the esa element, and that because there is around a 6 month wait for assessments, hopefully I might feel better within that time. She said all I had to do was apply for UC online and attend and I.d check and then I would be paid the assesment rate of Esa on UC.
My next jsa appointment is this Thursday and at the same time I have a counselling appointment booked. I have applied for UC yet as I'm not completely sure I will be awarded the assesment rate as I have already failed a WCA. To add to all that, I've been told my private rented house is being sold so I also have to find somewhere else to live. Not that that is relevant to my question but it's certainly adding to my stress. I have rang UC helpline who didn't seem to offer the option to ask this, I have done an online chat with money advice service who didn't know and I have phoned dwp who I was just on hold with for ages.
If anyone knows I would be extremely grateful.
Thanks

calcotti

julie237 wrote: »

I have rang UC helpline who didn't seem to offer the option to ask this, I have done an online chat with money advice service who didn't know and I have phoned dwp who I was just on hold with for ages.

I'm not clear what you are trying to ask them

If you apply for UC you will as a minimum get the same as on JSA as a job seeker. If you present with a GP Fit Note you can ask to be referred for a WCA. Only if you are found to have LCWRA will you get that extra money (and then only fro the fourth month). There is no way for anyone to know if you will be assessed as having LCWRA until the WCA is carried out.

If you do decide to claim UC make sure you have a Fit Note from your GP first so that you can present it at the start of your claim.

Note that if you currently get Housing Benefit and/or Tax Credits these will will end if you claim UC.

There are benefit calculators here https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators

julie237

I wanted to ask them if i move onto UC with a fit note would I receive the assesment rate of the LCW as was the case with ESA or would I receive nothing until after a WCA

Alice_Holt

As Calcotti says there is no guarantee you will get the additional LCWRA element if you apply for UC (or even be found not fit for work).
http://www.mybenefitsandwork.co.uk/med2/indexxx.php
https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/employment-and-support-allowance/esa-glossary/1353-support-group-descriptors (These are the same for UC LCWRA)

Are you aware of the 5 week waiting time between applying for UC and your payment date?
Have you the savings to tide you over this period?
http://benefitsaware.centralenglandlc.org.uk/universal-credit-waiting-periods/

At the very least, I would suggest a benefit check to ensure your income does not decrease under UC. For instance, how does the amount of Child Tax Credits you currently receive compare to the UC child element payment?
Worth checking several benefit calculators:
https://www.entitledto.co.uk/
https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/AboutYou
https://www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk/#/free
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/contact-us/#h-find-your-nearest-citizens-advice For a face to face benefit check.


Have you considered making an application for PIP?
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/
https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-points-system
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/831253/PIP-assessment-guide-part-2-the_assessment-criteria.pdf
This could increase your income, and it sounds as if you may well be eligible.

I do think you need to consider this carefully, and if you really can't cope with JSA then build up a financial buffer so you don't fall into debt during the UC waiting period.

See if Housing Options at your local council can help you find somewhere else to live.

Once UC is in payment (after the 5 week waiting period) you will receive £318 per month. The same as your JSA. You will need to submit fit notes whilst awaiting your WCA. If you fail the WCA you will be expected to look for work. If placed in the LCWRA there is an additional amount paid.
https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/Claimant-commitment-Universal-Credit

julie237

Thank you Alice, your post was very helpful , I have a lot to consider.

Spoonie_Turtle

Just to be really clear, the 3 potential outcomes of the WCA for UC are
> Fit for work (no extra money)
> Limited Capacity for Work (LCW, no extra money)
> Limited Capacity for Work and work-Related Activity (LCWRA, extra money from 4th month as already mentioned).

As with ESA you can request a Mandatory Reconsideration if you think the WCA decision is incorrect, then an appeal if you're not satisfied with the MR.

calcotti

julie237 wrote: »

I wanted to ask them if i move onto UC with a fit note would I receive the assesment rate of the LCW as was the case with ESA or would I receive nothing until after a WCA

Again, to avoid any doubt. If you claim UC you get a basic amount of £317.82/month (assuming you are aged at least 25). This is equivalent to the £146.20/fortnight you get on JSA or during the assessment phase of ESA.
Help with rent (which replaces Housing Benefit) is extra but the amount may be different to Housing Benefit depending on your circumstances.
Child responsibility element (which replaces Child Tax Credits) is extra but the amount will likely be different to Child Tax Credits.
LCWRA if awarded is extra (and is worth more than ESA Support Group).

As Alice suggests it would be sensible to do a benefits check.

julie237

Thank you all. I suppose I could have worded it a bit better, what I really wanted to make sure was that I would get at least the basic element of UC, I'm not bothered about the LCW being extra money or anything like that. I just want to not have to go to the job centre due to my anxiety.

Thanks everyone

huckster

The difference between UC and JSA in regard to Job Centre appointments is as follows.

With JSA you have to sign on every 2 weeks at the Job Centre.

With UC, once you have attended the Job Centre to confirm your ID, verify Bank details and anything else, you are then subject to regular appointments as is required. With a Doctors fit note, a Work Coach may tailor your claimant commitment and they may decide that appointments can be held by phone call. There is this flexibility to conduct phone appointments, as there is no signing on required.

julie237

Thank you for that info, Huckster. UC is sounding like the right option for me, I just wish they made it all a bit clearer.
Good job there's so many nice people on here to help out