Help me understand how this process works please? UC & WCA

consumers_revenge

Hi.

So son was unemployed and we went to job centre. Due to him being on the autistic spectrum we agreed lower/part time work and type of work roles. Job coach asked for a fit note and it basically confirms may be fit for work with suitable amendments. 

This triggered a UC-50/WCA. we did this last week F2F (nothing heard yet understandably)

He been offered a small 12 hour job, and without much need to interact with the public so should suit him. He's taking it.

So how does this work with him having taken a WCA and presumably since hes now going to be earning more than his dole money he enters that he's got a job and the UC claim should cease?

Does he need to do anything else? Will the results of the WCA be held somewhere in case this doesnt work out (which IS unfortunately a possibility)

Thanks.

Spoonie_Turtle

consumers_revenge said:

Hi.

So son was unemployed and we went to job centre. Due to him being on the autistic spectrum we agreed lower/part time work and type of work roles. Job coach asked for a fit note and it basically confirms may be fit for work with suitable amendments. 

This triggered a UC-50/WCA. we did this last week F2F (nothing heard yet understandably)

He been offered a small 12 hour job, and without much need to interact with the public so should suit him. He's taking it.

So how does this work with him having taken a WCA and presumably since hes now going to be earning more than his dole money he enters that he's got a job and the UC claim should cease?

Does he need to do anything else? Will the results of the WCA be held somewhere in case this doesnt work out (which IS unfortunately a possibility)

Thanks.

The deductions from his UC payment for wages will be 55% of what he earns.

He can still have a WCA if he's earning under 16xNMW/week, or regardless of earnings if he claims PIP.  If found to have LCW or LCWRA he'll get a work allowance which means disregarding part of his earnings (or potentially all, at 12hrs/wk and assuming he doesn't get rent help) before they make deductions.  If found to have LCWRA he will also be entitled to an extra element which will increase his maximum UC by around £400/month.

He will need to report it via his journal once he actually starts the job, but UC will get his wage info automatically from HMRC so all he needs to do is check his UC statement each month to make sure it's correct.

consumers_revenge

Thanks.

So all he needs to do is tell his work journal hes starting a job (presume with details) and just leave everything else as is? I think he'll get around £140 a week if that makes any calculations difference? He doesnt mark as ending his claim?

poppy12345

consumers_revenge said:

Thanks.

So all he needs to do is tell his work journal hes starting a job (presume with details) and just leave everything else as is? I think he'll get around £140 a week if that makes any calculations difference? He doesnt mark as ending his claim?

No, that's not how to report it. Once he starts working (not before) he needs to log into his journal and report a change of circumstances. Then from the list click work and earnings and report it through there. 

If he's found to have either LCW or LCWRA because he's not claiming for help with the rent his work allowance will be £673/month. Which means earnings received of up to that amount each assessment period will be ignored. 

consumers_revenge

So he lives with us and pays minimal rent (£50 whilst on UC)

No, that's not how to report it. Once he starts working (not before) he needs to log into his journal and report a change of circumstances. Then from the list click work and earnings and report it through there. 

He wont know his earnings til he gets paid though and weve no decision from WCA assessment yet. Starts training on Monday.

Sorry, all new to this 

_Jem_

consumers_revenge said:

So he lives with us and pays minimal rent (£50 whilst on UC)

No, that's not how to report it. Once he starts working (not before) he needs to log into his journal and report a change of circumstances. Then from the list click work and earnings and report it through there. 

He wont know his earnings til he gets paid though and weve no decision from WCA assessment yet. Starts training on Monday.

Sorry, all new to this 

I have been in that situation where I didn't know what my earnings would be as it was through a agency, I just left a message in the journal saying I don't know, when I got paid everything was adjusted without needing to do anything myself.

Newcad

consumers_revenge said:

So he lives with us and pays minimal rent (£50 whilst on UC)

Be careful not to call that 'Rent' when talking to the DWP/UC, it could just give them the wrong idea.

Rent is what you pay to the landlord when you have a Tenancy Agreement.
Unless you do have a 'commercial basis' TA with him, which would be unusual, then what he giving you isn't rent.

What he is giving you is his contribution to your houshold costs and not rent.
It's what used to be referred to as his 'keep'.

consumers_revenge

**edit to original post**

Hi and sorry its a longer post.

Basically son, 19 and on ASD applied for UC back in March and we also agreed limited work/distance with his work coach. GP then gave a 'fit note' to that effect.

This triggered a UC-50 which we completed a few weeks ago and had an WCA.

He managed to get himself a 12 hour week job shelf stacking which he feels he can cope with (so around £140 a week). That was 1/6/2024.

Today we have had the decision and he's been told LCWRA.

We've told UC via his journal about him starting working and this decision came after.

So I think he's allowed to do a certain numbers of hours and up to a certain figure and he can still claim UC?

I'm really not to sure how this all works and I've tried to understand the suggested calculators and had some figures but confused by them as I do really know if he keeps his wages on top of that or ???

Unfortunately this may all be changing anyway as they have already suggested he's struggling but lets assume he keeps it for now as I think I understand the figures if he does lose them.

Another side note is he's having his PIP assessment on Thursday (with me on the other line as he'll go mute) so would assume that him being awarded LCWRA would also count in his favor?

Sorry its a long read but if anyone could guide me/us it would really be helpful.

TIA.

Spoonie_Turtle

"So I think he's allowed to do a certain numbers of hours and up to a certain figure and he can still claim UC?"

He will have the work allowance which is a certain amount of earnings disregarded before they start taking deductions.  Assuming he lives with you, i.e. doesn't claim help with rent, the work allowance is £673/month.
*This is not a maximum he is allowed to earn, it just means he will get more UC on top of his earnings than without it.*

He'll also get the extra LCWRA component.

I note he's only just started the job so realistically the main difference he'll see is that extra LCWRA element.  And if he has to give up this job, he won't be required to search for anything else or attend any appointments.  He would be allowed to try to find more work if he wants - but only if he wants to - the Jobcentre won't be trying to make him do anything.


Depending on what the reasoning is for the LCWRA decision it could support his PIP claim, if it aligns with one or more of the PIP activities.  You are only likely to know the LCWRA reasoning if you have a copy of the assessment report though, the decision letters don't say (as far as I'm aware).  But probably still worth mentioning anyway, it at least demonstrates a certain level of disablement.

consumers_revenge

So unfortunately the company have said hes not up to standard speed wise at the end of his second week and have suggested he resigns or get another weeks training (Im reading this as company trying to make 'additional adjustments' due to his autism, but thats just my guess) then they will probably let him go. Shame as he quite likes the job.

As he was recently awarded LCWRA, if he leaves before being pushed would that have any knock of effects to his payments as he classed as not requiring to work anyway.

HillStreetBlues

consumers_revenge said:

So unfortunately the company have said hes not up to standard speed wise at the end of his second week and have suggested he resigns or get another weeks training (Im reading this as company trying to make 'additional adjustments' due to his autism, but thats just my guess) then they will probably let him go. Shame as he quite likes the job.

As he was recently awarded LCWRA, if he leaves before being pushed would that have any knock of effects to his payments as he classed as not requiring to work anyway.

As he is in LCWRA it makes no difference if he jumps or is pushed.