UC Long Term Sick Advice LCWRA awarded

Em62

Hi
Applied UC end of October.
Temp Agency Worker working on contract for 7 mths.
Signed off sick end of October 3 mths.
Signed off for another month, fit note ends 16th, but will get another as ongoing long term, seeing doctor on a weekly basis for mental health at the moment, referred to Specialist Mental Health Team 2 wks ago.
Sickness ongoing.
During this period attended colonoscopy, endoscopy, SehCat scans and finally diagnosed with severe bile acid malabsorption/bile acid diarrhoea.  On medication Questran binders daily for life, this causes side effects and doesn’t work all the time it’s all they got for now as new drugs being trialled.
 Have to follow low fat and diet issues ongoing. Have to continually watch what I eat and monitor what triggers many flare ups. Still have many episodes of severe faecal incontinence. I have this for life.  Hate going out. 

Suffered with DVTs in my groin since 30, now 60.  Been on riveroxoban for 4 years and ongoing for life. 

Have had depression and anxiety for many many years on and kind of off, but never really got better.  

It has taken 2 operations, bowel reconstruction,Which failed to resolve faecal incontinence (I was told it would) and my gall bladder out and numerous visits over 15 years to GP and specialists, with this bowel condition for them to find out what was wrong.  Having gall bladder out has resulted in my condition being even worse in last 12 mths.  I have suffered losing jobs, leaving jobs, stigma attached to the incontinence which is uncontrollable.  Been temping on and off since 2016. It has taken its toll on my well being and health.  And my career went out the window, no self confidence or self esteem.

Had full sick pay end of Nov zero UC
SSP and tax rebate end Dec - received UC
SSP end of Jan - should receive UC 8th Feb

First lot of UC kicked in on 8th January  

Fit notes provided for whole period and they will for future. GP has stated not to even think about work it’s a long road ahead and not a quick fix. 

It states on my notes I don’t have to look for work or work. I presume as I’m employed technically by the agency and they are paying my SSP for the whole 28 wks. Not sure what happens they seem to be ok paying SSP for 28 wks.

There has been a replacement temp provided for my assignment from more or less the beginning.

Need advice what to do next for benefits as work coach not helping.  

calcotti

Because you are providing Fit Notes to UC you should be referred for a Work Capability Assessment but you can't be referred while you are earning over your earnings drop below16 x National Minimum Wage/week.
9.5 x 16 x 52 /12 = £658.66/month. Your earnings are now below this you should be referred for WCA.

Your agency are obliged to pay you SSP for 28 weeks regardless of whether or not they are happy!

Em62

Hi

How or who can I get help with filling in the WCA form not sure where to go.

Thanks

poppy12345

Em62 said:

Hi

How or who can I get help with filling in the WCA form not sure where to go.

Thanks

You can see what advice agencies are local to you here. https://advicelocal.uk/welfare-benefits

There's also a guide here, it says ESA50 but the forms are identical. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/employment-and-support-allowance/help-with-your-esa-claim/fill-in-form-esa/

Descriptors for LCWRA are here. https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/universal-credit-uc/uc-faq/limited-capability-for-work-related-activity

LCW here. https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/universal-credit-uc/uc-faq/limited-capability-for-work

Em62

Thank  you that helps a lot 

born_again

You can download the UC50 here
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uc50-form-universal-credit-capability-for-work-questionnaire

Then fill it in on your computer, but you do have to print off (24 pages) & return. Once they send you the paper copy with the return envelope.

Very easy to fill in & gives you chance to hone your answers over several readings & attempts. Rather than using the copy they send & having to write out the answers by hand.
 but as per above plenty of online advice.

Did one Mrs & had a answer in a couple of weeks. It's just the 3 month wait to get the extra funds that's the pain.

Em62

Hi again, awarded LCWRA on the 26/06/23. 

First sicknote was 26/10/22. Started claiming UC on the 2nd Nov 22, !!!!!!. Period is 2nd to 1st.  

Next UC pmt due 8th July.  

Meanwhile had P45 and last 4 wks SSP and all of hol pay accrued yesterday. Payment was £2077.51.  So I will have a nil Uc award on the 8th.  

I start ESA today new style as that replaces my SSP as this ran out yesterday.  

Waiting period Dec 8th, Jan 8th, Feb 8th? 3 mths ? 

Do I get backpay for LCWRA for March 8th, Apr 8th, May 8th, Jun 8th ?

and as nil award Jul 8th no LCWRA but it will recommence 8th Aug as I will only get esa for July 1st to July 28th?

also as I was awarded LCWRA on the 26th of June 23 and I have been sick for 7 mths with no breaks do I go into the support group.  CAB have said I do not have another assessment for ESA as the UC 50 was the same assessment. 

Em62

I have received 1 month full sick pay for Nov 22,then 28 wks SSP up to yesterday.  So I could not get ESA until today but I applied 2 mths ago and it is added already on my HMRC paye tax record so it is going to start today. 

calcotti

Em62 said:

First sicknote was 26/10/22. Started claiming UC on the 2nd Nov 22, !!!!!!. Period is 2nd to 1st.  

Next UC pmt due 8th July.  

Waiting period Dec 8th, Jan 8th, Feb 8th? 3 mths ? 

Do I get backpay for LCWRA for March 8th, Apr 8th, May 8th, Jun 8th ?

I assume that you declared your health condition when you claimed UC on 2nd November.
The waiting period ends on 1st Feb 2023.
LCWRA is payable from the 1st February to 1st March. The first due payment for LCWRA would be on 8th March, as you correctly say.

Em62 said:

Meanwhile had P45 and last 4 wks SSP and all of hol pay accrued yesterday. Payment was £2077.51.  So I will have a nil Uc award on the 8th.  

Do I get backpay for LCWRA for March 8th, Apr 8th, May 8th, Jun 8th ?

and as nil award Jul 8th no LCWRA but it will recommence 8th Aug 

Yes.

Em62 said:

also as I was awarded LCWRA on the 26th of June 23 and I have been sick for 7 mths with no breaks do I go into the support group.  CAB have said I do not have another assessment for ESA as the UC 50 was the same assessment. 

LCWRA will mean that he will be in the ESA Support Group. The Support Group extra money on ESA will be paid from the 14th week on ESA in early October. (Obviously it makes no difference to the total income because it all be deducted from the UC.)

Em62

Thank you, I realise not financially better off on ESA but the NI contributions are better on ESA than on UC. I realise it all gets deducted from UC.  

Em62

Does anyone know if the backpay takes you over the threshold of 6k is disregarded for 12 months as someone told me it is taken into account.  I don’t understand that how can it be counted when they owed it to you for previous periods and you have been financially worse off than you should’ve been.  It’s your benefit money not income or savings?