Universal Credit, WCA. From worry to a positive outcome!

Simon7685

I like to think I am a fair minded person that criticises when its needed but also gives credit where its due.  I have had my run ins with the DWP over the years, lies told about my health issues during tribunals Etc. Etc.  However on this occasion I wanted to give some praise to the system that has for once worked well.
To cut a long story short I completed a WCA form in March 2020.  Covid arrived and stopped everything in its tracks, in September I was selected for a telephone assessment, so I thought bang go my chances without a face to face.  The assessment happened and I was told they had enough information to make a recommendation to the DWP but it would take a few weeks because of a backlog.  Two days later I got a letter saying they didnt have enough information and I would need a face to face after the pandemic.  
Fast forward to February and I ended up seriously ill in hospital, I was diagnosed with severe Ulcerative Colitis and came very close to losing most of my bowels.  I sent my work coach a message on my journal to say where I was as I wasnt sure if I had to tell them I was in hospital.  I got a really nice reply and a new work coach introduced herself.  She said everything was fine not to worry about anything and she had been reading about all my health issues.  She said she was going to chase up the WCA as it needed sorting out it wasnt fair leaving me in limbo like they had.
Anyway within hours she messaged me again to say my case had been expedited to a senior person and they were looking again at it.  She said she had made them aware of my new additional problems health wise, even though they currently had no bearing on the pending decision.  She also pointed out that I was awarded a 10 year award of PIP in 2016 after several DLA awards in the previous 8 years.
A few hours went by and I got an email saying I had to log in to my UC account.  I logged in and there were 2 letters to read.  The first one said they had looked at my WCA and decided I was to be placed in the LCWRA I later found out from my work coach that this was entirely based on my declared conditions on the WCA form and didnt include my new condition, which is life changing and life long.  The second letter included details of my extra award and that my back pay would be in my account by 8pm on the same day.
So for once it does show that sometimes, with the right person you can get a positive experience and the right result.  For that my work coach deserves a lot of credit, she didnt have to do what she did for me.  I expected a long fight and a tribunal, in the meantime just about getting through each month by robbing Peter to pay Paul.  The only thing I dont know is how long they have awarded me LCWRA for as it wasnt mentioned on the letter, neither were the points they scored me but I can live with that!
😀😀😀

calcotti

Unlike PIP, LCWRA doesn't have a fixed end date. It continues until such time as a different decision is made. DWP will have a note on their system with a suggested review date but this is not told to claimants unless they ask.
Good luck recovering from your recent illness.

Spoonie_Turtle

Excellent news! I'm sorry for your worsening health but not needing to worry about benefits for a while must be a huge relief.

Robbie64

The reason why you would have originally been told you needed a face to face was most likely because the DWP couldn't decide from the information they had what group to place you in (that is either the LCW or LCWRA group). It's good that someone did re-read through everything and decided that a dision could be made after all.

As calcotti has posted, there will be a review date on the UC computer system. You can send a note on your account to ask for the date.

sammyjammy

I think what you've probably got there is a long standing member of staff that has probably worked in that area before and therefore has the background knowledge and contacts and is now a Work Coach, just lucky!  

Glad its all sorted and hope you are feeling better after your hospital visit.

Simon7685

Thanks for the kind words and info re a date of review, its appreciated.  I think I will just run with it for now, one less thing to worry about.  Its a difficult disease to live with as I am finding out but I will find my way through it like everything else.  The extra money each month is a god send, for once my cupboards are stocked up and the freezer actually has food in it lol.  I was absolutely dreading the £20 a week uplift being taken away in September, hopefully I will be lucky enough to still have the LCWRA in payment but I feel so sorry for the millions of people who won't.
I have been wondering if I should report the new health condition on my UC claim now or wait until the next review.  Initially my WC said to report it when I felt well enough but then she said as we have a decision I dont really need to report it until a later date because it won't affect anything???

Spoonie_Turtle

Simon7685 said:

I have been wondering if I should report the new health condition on my UC claim now or wait until the next review.  Initially my WC said to report it when I felt well enough but then she said as we have a decision I dont really need to report it until a later date because it won't affect anything???

Wait until your next review.  They can't place you in a 'higher' group or give you more money because LCWRA is the most they can award which you have anyway.  Really no point triggering a reassessment now!

calcotti

Spoonie_Turtle said: Wait until your next review.  They can't place you in a 'higher' group or give you more money because LCWRA is the most they can award which you have anyway.  Really no point triggering a reassessment now!

 I agree.

Simon7685

Thats great thanks for the advice, I hadnt realised it would prompt a reassessment.

Robbie64

Simon7685 said:

Thats great thanks for the advice, I hadnt realised it would prompt a reassessment.

It may not but there's every chance it would.

Mrsn

OP I have nothing to add as such but to wish you luck with the Ulcerative Colitis. I was diagnosed 13 years ago and was very poorly at the beginning. The medication available these days has come a long way and hopefully you will find a combination that works for you soon. Rest when you need too also it can be very debilitating at times.