LCWRA awarded but never paid

Lilliann1

Hi,
So I've been off work for a while now with epilepsy and really struggling to control it, also have severe back pain due to injuries caused by seizures. I have a letter in my journal in Jan 2021 saying I have lwcra but have never been paid, I have a lot of confusion so have only recently realised and when I asked they said they uploaded the wrong letter! They have sent me a UC50 but has anyone got any advice for me please?
If I am awarded it now will it be backpaid or not, im really confused! I'm currently waiting for a reply.
Thank you!

TimeLord1

Probably best to do a breakdown list of what universal credit is currently paying you, if you've been claiming and not required to work since January 2021. 

But without it nobody can see what is missing.

Newcad

Have you previously had a UC50 and/or a Work Capability Assessment?

Also did the journal message say LCWRA or LCW? They are different and you would not get extra money if it's just LCW.

(I am assuming that you were not getting ESA before claiming UC).

Lilliann1

Hi thanks for replies.
I'm just currently receiving housing and the basic payment that's all, it's comes to £790 a month.
I don't think I've ever had a form to fill in, not that I can remember anyway.  It definitely says LCWRA on the letter.
No I wasn't getting ESA before claiming universal credit.
Thanks very much!

Newcad

If you haven't previously had a UC50 or a subsequent Work Capability Assessment then it's difficult to see* how you could have been awarded LCWRA back in 2021.

If you have not previously (before Jan 2021) had a UC50 questionaire and/or a Work Capability Assessment then I'd say it is highly likely that the notification of LCWRA was a mistake like they say.

Personally I'd be grateful that they haven't also been paying you the LCWRA element by mistake, if they had been then you would now have a pretty big overpayment to pay back.

*(It is possible that LCWRA can be awarded without assessment and without the claimant being told the reason why, but that's only in particular and quite unusual circumstances that don't appear to apply here - and they wouldn't be sending you a UC50 now if it did apply).