UC WCA - How often?

Crazydennie

Basically what the title states. Is the WCA a one time thing or is it something that automatically gets reviewed after so many years like pip.  I have had LCWRA for 5 years now and my PIP has been reassessed during that time but not WCA.

Muttleythefrog

It gets regularly reviewed ordinarily (3 years used to be the maximum set periodicity)... however there are major backlogs combined with WCA uncertainties. There seem to be anecdotally very few with LCWRA getting reviews at present.

Newcad

It will get reviewed, and the original decision will say when a reassessment is due - but at the moment despite what that may say how long is a 'piece of string' question.

Many of us are well overdue for a WCA reassessment, I'm currently 4 years plus overdue.

They do not have the capacity to do all the reassessments needed so are concentrating on new claim assessments.

They are still doing reassessments, I personally know someone who had to do a new UC50 recently, but the latest statistics I saw less than 1 in 10 of WCAs being done were reassessments.

At the risk of getting political - the recently announced changes of assessment providers may change things, as may the intention to scrap WCAs altogether

huckster

There has been recruitment via agencies of health professionals to complete the WCA's
on a fixed contract period basis. Spoken to a few people who have taken on this work, as they needed to work from home, so they will obviously only be able to complete ones that can be done by telephone.

Spoonie_Turtle

My aunt hasn't had one since her original WCA back in 2013.  She's an anomaly, of course, but shows there is no fixed timeframe to the award.  The decision is ongoing until the next WCA, whereas PIP is a fixed length award.

nannytone_2

Although I'm on ESA, I haven't been reviewed since I dirst claimed in 2011

huckster

I think ESA do look at whether the health/diability is for life and severe enough not to be in a position to be able to move towards employment, when they prioritise which claimants are put through the reassessment process.

Once all claims are on UC,  having all claimants subject to reassessments on one system must surely make it easier to manage. And now the WCA assessment companies are regionalised, if Government put in the resources, perhaps any backlog can be gradually dealt with.  I cannot see any Government scraping WCA for new claimants and relying on the PIP assessments. Will be more difficult than they think.

Crazydennie

Thanks everyone. I am currently in and out of work that UC can see as I always report it and they make their deductions but I do fear that this will trigger a reassessment. Of the five years on LCWRA I have worked about half when you add it all together. They have never questioned the type of work I do and I think it fits in with my assessed issues.  Fingers crossed they keep skipping over me.

kkkklinky

Interestingly both my partner and brother have recently been sent the reviews forms for LCWRA and IRESA SupportGroup respectively who live in different parts of the country. So it seems reviews are taking place for people in the Support Group and LCWRA. My partner on UC was last reviewed 6 years ago and my brother on ESA 3:years ago. Comments on Reddit also stating reviews have restarted for all groups.