Can you request a review for LCWRA?

EmmaPollard

I was put on LCWRA in January due to mental health.

I've since had a diagnosis for both ADHD and Fibromyalgia which potentially changes my award from LCWRA to LCW.

My original assessment said it was to be reviewed in 3 months for mental health and 6 months for physical health, I've heard nothing since my original award.

I have added my diagnoses to my claim.

teaselMay

Have you got that the wrong way around? Limited capability for work (LCW) is the assessment level where you're not considered currently fit to look for work but are supported to 'prepare for work', limited capability for work and work related activity (LCWRA) is where you're not expected to undertake any work related activity

HillStreetBlues

You can request a move in both ways LCW to LCWRA or LCWRA to LCW, if you feel that you are in the wrong group ( Do wonder if anyone has requested LCWRA to LCW).

Awards just continue until you are reassessed.
Based of you getting the terms the wrong way round and you are on LCW: As you are within 13 months you can appeal the decision. If you feel you qualify for LCWRA, then it's something you should certainly do, as it would be backdated to Jan, and you would get the old LCWRA rate.

Newcad

You report the new conditions to ESA and request that they refer you for a reassessment.

However there are a few things to bear in mind.

1- An ESA Work Capability Assessment (WCA) is NOT about diagnosed conditions, it Is all about how those conditions affect your ability to perform any work.

So if you had those conditions, even though undiagnosed, at your original assessment in January then have your capabilites changed since?

2- If your capabilities HAVE deteriorated then the appeal route suggested will not work.

Any appeal has to consider your capabilities at the time of the WCA decision that you are appealing and the appeal tribunal can't consider any changes since then.

3- The DWP are prioritising WCA's for new claims, and even those are backlogged. WCA's for new conditions are a much lower priority.

So it could take a very long time until you get a reassessment (months, sometimes over a year, waiting for a change-of-circumstances reassessment to happen is being reported on Rightsnet).

However whatever the reassessment decision eventually is it will (should) be backdated to when you reported the change of circumstances.

HillStreetBlues

Personally I wouldn't ask for a reassessment as you aren't claiming your conditions have got worse, what you are claiming is better evidence by having a diagnosis. Although a diagnosis isn't needed, but it could support your claim. If reassessed and uplifted to LCWRA it would be on the new lower rate.

Robbie64

The poster needs to clarify which group she is currently in as the first post is confusing. However, the poster hasn't returned to the thread (while logged in) since the day she started the thread, on 03/09/26.

EmmaPollard

Yes, I got it the wrong way round.

I'm on lcw currently.

While I understand that it's not based on diagnosis they have a habit of saying there's no evidence as there's no diagnosis (more so with PIP)

My health has deteriorated since the assessment in that my pain levels are worse and mobility issues are worse. The lcw decision was made based on my mental health whilst the physical pain was ignored.

The fact that I have to do certain things seems to go against me in any health assessment but as a single person this isn't through choice.

Nobody at DWP has any answers.

huckster

Most reassessments for capability for work are taking 18 months to 2 years to be completed. This is where the claimant already has LCW and they are wanting to see if they qualify for LCWRA. DWP will only prioritise people with terminal health conditions for an urgent review. For any new reassessment process started now, the amount of benefit now payable for LCWRA is a lot less, about £217 per month.

If you go through a new reassessment process you could be found capable of work and lose the LCW. I have seen a few examples where people have daily levels of pain and other issues to contend with, who have been found capable of working.

Muttleythefrog

As per above.. I would be inclined only to pursue a change of circumstances to get a new assessment if you are very well set to show at least one LCWRA descriptors applies to you now. If not then there is risk of a long wait for re-assessment only to find LCW re-awarded or worse loss of LCW.

Alternatively there is option for challenging the original decision of January but that should look at circumstances at that time not now and that could be a problem if situation has worsened since.