lcwra assessment period / backdating ???

jjhelmb

Hi I moved from ESA last year into LCW group. I've asked for an assessment since switching for lcwra and just recieved a date for a face

to face in November. I started giving medical evidence in since day 1.

How far if at all will lcwra backdate? they usually say theres a three month assessment but its taken a year to get me an appointment?

BenefitsTrainingCo

jjhelmb

Good question. I'm assuming you are now on UC with your limited capability for work status carried over from your ESA? This would only apply if you were entitled to ESA on the day you claimed UC.

If your UC award includes the LCW element (equivalent of the work-related activity component) carried over from your ESA (which it would only do if your limited capability goes back to before 3 April 2017), then there should be plenty of backdating. It will go back to when you asked for the change. If that was from day 1, of your UC claim, then you'll get the LCWRA element going back to day 1. To pay your arrears though, they'll be paying you the difference between your LCWRA element and the LCW element that you actually received. Then in future UC payments you should get the LCWRA element for every assessment period.

If however you were NOT getting the LCW element when you started claiming UC, it looks as if the three month 'relevant period' applies. That means that the backdating would go to 3 months after the day you first provided medical evidence - or to put it another way, you should get the LCWRA element going back to your fourth assessment period. In this case, the arrears would be paid in full as there would be no LCW element to deduct.

Will

poppy123456

@BenefitsTrainingCo hi,

I'm sorry to query this but if the decision is LCWRA isn't it paid from the date of the decision, even though a change of circumstances were reported?

jjhelmb

I'm here to find out haha @poppy123456

Thank you @BenefitsTrainingCo for that info. I guess it will be a coin toss what actually happens with DWP but that will be a good guideline of what to expect following their decision.