migration to UC from CTC advice please

Yamor

Another advantage of taking up Poppy's suggestion is that your partner would be left alone from a conditionality perspective even before she is assessed, as your earnings will be enough for both of you.

Without Poppy's suggestion, she would still be in the light touch regime, so she would not have to actually look for work, but could be called in for appointments, or be expected to carry out some work preparation activities. Even these requirements are only going to start some time in 2024.

gunner0788

thank you for the replies. i understand a bit more now. im just worried the doctor will see her disability as a minor problem and wont give the sick note that puts her in the LCWRA. or is that the assessment that decides that?

poppy12345

gunner0788 said:

thank you for the replies. i understand a bit more now. im just worried the doctor will see her disability as a minor problem and wont give the sick note that puts her in the LCWRA. or is that the assessment that decides that?

A fit note isn't evidence or proof that she has LCWRA. She will need to provide other evidence for this when she fills out and returns the UC50 form. You can see the form here. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/609bd924e90e07356e2bbbbd/uc50-interactive.pdf 

She can use this form and download it, if she prefers to type her answers instead of writing them. Though do make sure that she waits until she's been referred for the WCA and receives the form in the post before she returns this one. If she returns this one before she's referred then it will be ignored.

gunner0788

Thank you. i have filled it out in prepration for when we get one...

Spoonie_Turtle

That's great you're preparing early.

It might be helpful to know how the WCA is assessed, just to make sure you know what they're looking for and whether you feel the initial outcome is correct or not.

These are the descriptors - for LCWRA they are further down the page
https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/esa_criteria

The activities are assessed using similar principles to PIP: whether someone can do the activity in the descriptor repeatedly, reliably and safely.
See also https://wcainfo.net/issues/majority-of-time-always

poppy12345

gunner0788 said:

Thank you. i have filled it out in prepration for when we get one...

I agree it's great to prepare but that was extremely quick to fill in the whole form. It takes me a couple of weeks to fill it in because i make sure not to miss anything out.  Make sure you fill it in with plenty of relevant information. They very rarely contact anyone for any evidence so make sure it's sent with the form.

There's also a guide here which you may find helpful. It's the ESA50 guide but the forms are identical.

GiroBoy

I'd contact a local CAB or Local Authority benefits team if there are one just to check. I don't think you would get the Carer's element are you are working full time. If you are happy to support your wife on your income then tell DWP you don't want to claim UC.

poppy12345

GiroBoy said:

I don't think you would get the Carer's element are you are working full time.

That’s not correct either. There’s no earnings limit to carers element of UC like there is with carers allowance. 

gunner0788

It took me a good couple of hours to fill in but it's not finished lol. Somethings i will need to remember and add to it. 

We have just been to the doctors and my wife got a 3 month sick note. The doc said thats the maximum she can put is that right?

poppy12345

A fit note can be for any length of time. When my daughter was going through the WCA her fit notes were for 6 months. You will need to make sure there’s no gaps in the fit notes. 

Make sure she reports the fit note on her journal. It will ask her for the information on it. Then keep it just incase they ask for it.