Backdated LCWRA

dp1

Hi My first LCWRA payment has been added to my universal credit payment for 24th December - 24th January.
Can anyone advise me when I'll get a backdated payment - do I get it automatically?
I reported my first fit note on 18th January this year and was referred for a Work Capability Assessment which I had on 11/12/24, when I was awarded LCWRA.
Thanks Dorothy

Spoonie_Turtle

It's the fourth full assessment period after reporting your health condition if there are no breaks in your fit note dates.

So based on the assessment date you've given, the 18th Jan was partway through your Jan/Feb AP.  The first full AP that counts is therefore Feb/Mar, then Mar/Apr, then Apr/May. 
So the LCWRA element is payable from the May/Jun AP.  (Then Jun/Jul, Jul/Aug, Aug/Sept, Sept/Oct, Oct/Nov, Nov/Dec.)  Seven months in total.

We don't know how long they'll take to calculate the backpayment and then pay it, there are no set timescales.

If you have any earnings on your claim and didn't already have the work allowance, they'll also have to recalculate your UC payments from the Feb/Mar AP as well.  If that's the case, you may want to make sure to take a copy of the original statements (e.g. screenshot or save as PDF) because they'll be overwritten when they recalculate and issue new ones.  This will also happen having LCWRA now but if your claim is otherwise straightforward without deductions or anything then it's not so important to have the original statements.

Newcad

Were you already on UC when you sent that first Fit note? Or was it a new claim?

What is your UC period? (If you usually get paid on the 24th then it is probably the 18th to the 17th of each month).

The rule is that there are 3 FULL UC periods  after you first supply evidence (fit note) until the entitlement starts. (Unless you are migrating from ESA or IS).

You saying that your first fit note was on the 18th makes me think it may have been the first day of a new claim?

Depending on those details you are probably due a LCWRA backpayment starting with your May payment - (if they do it correctly, which TBH is not always a given).

I would check your bank account, such backpayments will often hit your bank before the DWP tell you about them.

dp1

Thank you both for your speedy replies.
I was already on Universal Credit  when I applied for LCWRA. I usually get paid 29th - 31st of each month.
Thanks for the advice to take screenshots Spoonie-Turtle

Newcad

OK that changes things a bit (the UC period/payment date in particular) and you are probably only due the LCWRA Element backdated to your June payment.

Have you been able to check your bank account? I realise that not everyone does online banking so can't check that quickly.

KxMx

Spoonie_Turtle said:

It's the fourth full assessment period after reporting your health condition if there are no breaks in your fit note dates.

So based on the assessment date you've given, the 18th Jan was partway through your Jan/Feb AP.  The first full AP that counts is therefore Feb/Mar, then Mar/Apr, then Apr/May. 
So the LCWRA element is payable from the May/Jun AP.  (Then Jun/Jul, Jul/Aug, Aug/Sept, Sept/Oct, Oct/Nov, Nov/Dec.)  Seven months in total.

We don't know how long they'll take to calculate the backpayment and then pay it, there are no set timescales.

If you have any earnings on your claim and didn't already have the work allowance, they'll also have to recalculate your UC payments from the Feb/Mar AP as well.  If that's the case, you may want to make sure to take a copy of the original statements (e.g. screenshot or save as PDF) because they'll be overwritten when they recalculate and issue new ones.  This will also happen having LCWRA now but if your claim is otherwise straightforward without deductions or anything then it's not so important to have the original statements.

Hi this is no longer the case. When a statement is revised you now have access to the original also. 

KxMx

Payments only start 3 full assessment periods after the first Fit Note, if they have been provided the entire time since January 22, without gaps. 

By without gaps I mean each subsequent Fit Note has been provided before the current one expires. 

Any backdated Fit Notes will effect when the waiting period is counted from, as that would mean gaps in providing them.

dp1

Thanks KxMx
Another question - am I allowed to pay money into a pension without it being regarded as savings by Universal Credit?

marcia_

dp1 said:

Thanks KxMx
Another question - am I allowed to pay money into a pension without it being regarded as savings by Universal Credit?

 Pensions that you can't withdraw from until pension age are not savings. But if it's in a normal account but you have earmarked it as a pension it is counted. 

dp1

Thank you Marcia x

kaMelo

dp1 said:

Thanks KxMx
Another question - am I allowed to pay money into a pension without it being regarded as savings by Universal Credit?

Are you currently working?