LCWRA and returning to work

Crazydennie

I currently have LCWRA and will be returning to work full time in September. 

Has anyone done this and what was your experience?
I know it can be anytime but how long was it before the work capability reassessment came through? 
Just looking for some real-life examples to help me manage my anxiety.

poppy12345

I think trying to compare yourself to someone else is extremely difficult. LCWRA is an ongoing award and doesn't stop until another decision's been made when you're reviewed, unless of course your earnings reduced your UC to zero. Everyon'es award length will be different and some people go alot longer between reviews than others.

What you need to be aware of though is if working contradicts the reasons why you're in this group then you could be re-assessed early and once the decision is made it could go against you.

Crazydennie

I know I am likely to lose my LCWRA but I think I should returnto work if I am able.  I thought going out to work would trigger a reassessment?  and I was asking how long this trigger took for people. I understand that everyone has different reassessment periods but starting work is meant to override this as I understood? 

poppy12345

Starting work doesn't always trigger another review, although as advised this may happen if the reasons contradict one another. You will need to report the changes onto your journal. Lots of people work as well as being in the LCWRA group.

Spoonie_Turtle

Crazydennie said:

I know I am likely to lose my LCWRA but I think I should returnto work if I am able.  I thought going out to work would trigger a reassessment?  and I was asking how long this trigger took for people. I understand that everyone has different reassessment periods but starting work is meant to override this as I understood? 

No.

You may or may not lose the LCWRA, depending on the work you do and how much you earn. The only automatic would be if you earn enough to have nil UC payable, and even that wouldn't actually fully close your claim until 6 months of having no UC.  If you still meet the LCWRA criteria then you don't have to be assessed as Fit for Work (and if they did, but you knew you still met one of the descriptors, you could challenge the decision).

Crazydennie

Do the WCA letters normally tell you why you were awarded LCWRA? Mine is UCD81 and simply states that I have been awarded LCWRA but no reason unlike the PIP letter that details the points. 
    

Spoonie_Turtle

Crazydennie said:

Do the WCA letters normally tell you why you were awarded LCWRA? Mine is UCD81 and simply states that I have been awarded LCWRA but no reason unlike the PIP letter that details the points. 
    

Not to my knowledge.  You needed to have requested a report after the assessment.  I don't know if you still can, however long ago it was.

calcotti

Crazydennie said:

Do the WCA letters normally tell you why you were awarded LCWRA? Mine is UCD81 and simply states that I have been awarded LCWRA but no reason unlike the PIP letter that details the points. 

You will have some idea of what your issues were when you claimed. Clearly if, for example, you were experiencing bad back pain which limited your ability to do things and now proposed to stack shelves in a supermarket that would be more likely to trigger a reassessment than an office based job. 

poppy12345

The WCA decision letters have very little information on them. You mention anxiety, if it's mental health you're claiming for then possible reg 35 (substantial risk) https://wcainfo.net/issues/substantial-risk-lcwra

Crazydennie

Severe mental health problems are the main reason I claimed and this was backed by current evidence from my CPN.  I take high levels of an antidepressant as well as an antipsychotic which are managing my symptoms fairly well but not completely.  I didn't attend a WCA assessment and this was before COVID.

I did call after the assessment but was advised that there was no report and they were not able to give me a reason but I was to have a 12-month review which was due July 2020, so I assume it was delayed by COVID as I am still waiting.

poppy12345

Crazydennie said:

Severe mental health problems are the main reason I claimed and this was backed by current evidence from my CPN.  I take high levels of an antidepressant as well as an antipsychotic which are managing my symptoms fairly well but not completely.  I didn't attend a WCA assessment and this was before COVID.

I did call after the assessment but was advised that there was no report and they were not able to give me a reason but I was to have a 12-month review which was due July 2020, so I assume it was delayed by COVID as I am still waiting.

A report will have been written and returned to DWP as this always happens. If you didn't have an assessment at all then it would have been a paper based assessment. Based on what you've said here then my guess is it's reg35 but not knowing how your conditions affect you then it's only a guess.

There are huge backlogs with work capability assessments due to the pandemic so yes, this would be the reason why you haven't been contacted.