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Help with WCA
- CathyP
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3 months 3 weeks ago #298616 by CathyP
Help with WCA was created by CathyP
I was put in the LCW group for UC on 4 Aug 2022 (I have the letter confirming that). I no longer had work coach appointments or had to provide fit notes.
I got PIP awarded later in 2022 - neither component at higher rate.
Then, when I told them that I'd been in hospital for a month last year after falling and breaking my hip, plus a couple of other things that had been picked up during that stay and were still being investigated, they requested fit notes once again, and said I'd need to complete a WCA, which I duly did and submitted on 7 Aug 2024 - it took me a long time to do it and was 27 pages of handwriting in addition to the form (my printer has stopped working). So far, I've heard nothing back.
My PIP Review started in Dec 2024. I have not filled anything out, partly as I phoned them to request copies of what I'd originally submitted, so I could work out what's changed and to tell them to use the WCA I'd submitted. They said
1. They could not send me copies of what I'd submitted and the assessment and outcome as they didn't have it!
2. They would use what they had access to from GP etc.
3. I stressed that the WCA assessment had a great deal of info, that GP records would not have
4. At the time of the WCA assessment, I had not been diagnosed with COPD as that did not occur until 28 Aug 2024. I advised DWP via the UC journal - in the correct place (confirmed by a work coach in a telephone appointment on 27 Jan 2025).
I have had to provide fit notes again, since I advised 're the hospital stay and have resumed work coach appointments by phone, admittedly about every 2-3 months when all they do is go through security!
Separately to this, I have had a UC review going on from some time in Aug 2024, when I got a request for photo ID and 3 months of bank statements. It took months to sort that out as I had to request the statements from my bank (they'd stopped issuing them in paper format whilst I was in hospital, with no access to emails etc), so, they eventually arranged to send someone out to get copies when I explained (numerous times) that my printer (its a scanner & copier too) wasn't working, so I couldn't get copies or print out from downloads and that I'd need to get a taxi to/from the Job Centre which
I estimated would be £20 each way.
When I asked yesterday about the WCA, I was told the work coach couldn't help 're that, or advise on outcome decisions, and I'd need to phone the provider dealing with it (the No given is for Serco, which I think is the provider in my area - Bedford).
She also checked I knew I had an appointment this Thurs, 30 Jan 2024, with the UC Review team. I said I was. I asked what this was about as I'd provided all details when I started my claim for UC in 2022 - a year after I'd lost my job, as I lived off the settlement I got for a year as
a) my mental health was appallingly bad then, and
b) I knew I had too much in my bank a/c to get any UC award.
Her explanation was that all claims commenced in 2022 are being reviewed as details were requested correctly or not recorded correctly...
So now, almost 3 years on, they're chasing people, with none of that explained unless or until pressed! I've been told this call will take an hour... what for, I don't know.
I have a question though about the LWC and LWCWRA groups ('re the WCA) as, by chance, reading an online article from Coventry Online re various benefit increases due in April 2025, I found out that being placed in either group entitles you to extra benefits - currently £156.11 for the LCW group and £416.19 for LWCWRA. I have never recieved any extra benefit from UC, since getting the UCD82 letter dated 4 Aug 2024. Should I have been getting this extra money? As I haven't, should I get it, backdated to then? If so, who do I need to contact?
My mental health (I have longstanding depression and anxiety since 2019/2020) is already poor, plus I am in constant pain as a result of various issues & conditions. I'm not sure I can tackle yet something else right now...
I am in significant arrears with my mortgage and I know I have to speak to them before Friday or they will re-commence court proceedings to repossess... I haven't claimed the benefit to help with interest payments on the mortgage as I know this has to be repaid at some point - e.g. if I sell up to move, which I actually plan to do, to be nearer the rest of my family in the West Country - something that had to be put on hold last year following my accident. I still don't know how I will view any properties or pack up my stuff, as a) I can't get upstairs where I live, and b) I would really struggle to travel to & from by public transport, especially alone.
I would be so very grateful for advice on so many things I've mentioned. I'm sorry my post covers so many things, but they're all intertwined in my head.
Thank you
Cathy
I got PIP awarded later in 2022 - neither component at higher rate.
Then, when I told them that I'd been in hospital for a month last year after falling and breaking my hip, plus a couple of other things that had been picked up during that stay and were still being investigated, they requested fit notes once again, and said I'd need to complete a WCA, which I duly did and submitted on 7 Aug 2024 - it took me a long time to do it and was 27 pages of handwriting in addition to the form (my printer has stopped working). So far, I've heard nothing back.
My PIP Review started in Dec 2024. I have not filled anything out, partly as I phoned them to request copies of what I'd originally submitted, so I could work out what's changed and to tell them to use the WCA I'd submitted. They said
1. They could not send me copies of what I'd submitted and the assessment and outcome as they didn't have it!
2. They would use what they had access to from GP etc.
3. I stressed that the WCA assessment had a great deal of info, that GP records would not have
4. At the time of the WCA assessment, I had not been diagnosed with COPD as that did not occur until 28 Aug 2024. I advised DWP via the UC journal - in the correct place (confirmed by a work coach in a telephone appointment on 27 Jan 2025).
I have had to provide fit notes again, since I advised 're the hospital stay and have resumed work coach appointments by phone, admittedly about every 2-3 months when all they do is go through security!
Separately to this, I have had a UC review going on from some time in Aug 2024, when I got a request for photo ID and 3 months of bank statements. It took months to sort that out as I had to request the statements from my bank (they'd stopped issuing them in paper format whilst I was in hospital, with no access to emails etc), so, they eventually arranged to send someone out to get copies when I explained (numerous times) that my printer (its a scanner & copier too) wasn't working, so I couldn't get copies or print out from downloads and that I'd need to get a taxi to/from the Job Centre which
I estimated would be £20 each way.
When I asked yesterday about the WCA, I was told the work coach couldn't help 're that, or advise on outcome decisions, and I'd need to phone the provider dealing with it (the No given is for Serco, which I think is the provider in my area - Bedford).
She also checked I knew I had an appointment this Thurs, 30 Jan 2024, with the UC Review team. I said I was. I asked what this was about as I'd provided all details when I started my claim for UC in 2022 - a year after I'd lost my job, as I lived off the settlement I got for a year as
a) my mental health was appallingly bad then, and
b) I knew I had too much in my bank a/c to get any UC award.
Her explanation was that all claims commenced in 2022 are being reviewed as details were requested correctly or not recorded correctly...
So now, almost 3 years on, they're chasing people, with none of that explained unless or until pressed! I've been told this call will take an hour... what for, I don't know.
I have a question though about the LWC and LWCWRA groups ('re the WCA) as, by chance, reading an online article from Coventry Online re various benefit increases due in April 2025, I found out that being placed in either group entitles you to extra benefits - currently £156.11 for the LCW group and £416.19 for LWCWRA. I have never recieved any extra benefit from UC, since getting the UCD82 letter dated 4 Aug 2024. Should I have been getting this extra money? As I haven't, should I get it, backdated to then? If so, who do I need to contact?
My mental health (I have longstanding depression and anxiety since 2019/2020) is already poor, plus I am in constant pain as a result of various issues & conditions. I'm not sure I can tackle yet something else right now...
I am in significant arrears with my mortgage and I know I have to speak to them before Friday or they will re-commence court proceedings to repossess... I haven't claimed the benefit to help with interest payments on the mortgage as I know this has to be repaid at some point - e.g. if I sell up to move, which I actually plan to do, to be nearer the rest of my family in the West Country - something that had to be put on hold last year following my accident. I still don't know how I will view any properties or pack up my stuff, as a) I can't get upstairs where I live, and b) I would really struggle to travel to & from by public transport, especially alone.
I would be so very grateful for advice on so many things I've mentioned. I'm sorry my post covers so many things, but they're all intertwined in my head.
Thank you
Cathy
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- Gary
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3 months 3 weeks ago #298640 by Gary
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by Gary on topic Help with WCA
Hi CathyP
Welcome to the forum.
You might want to have a look at the following FAQ which explains where everything is; www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/guides-for-claimants/faq/forum.
We would advise you to contact your local Welfare Rights Organisation; advicelocal.uk, they will be able to take all your circumstances into consideration.
I will try and answer some of your queries
You can make a request to the DWP to send you your information, this is called a subject access request; www.gov.uk/guidance/request-your-persona...or-work-and-pensions.
In regard to being paid an extra premium, LCW £156.11. This was abolished to new claimants from April 2017, as you started claiming UC in 2022, you would not be entitled to this additional element.
If you are placed in the LCWRA group then the backdate will depend on a number of factors;
1) did you request a change in circumstances
2) did the DWP send you a review
Your local Welfare Rights Organisation will be able to explain this to you taking all your circumstances into consideration.
Gary
Welcome to the forum.
You might want to have a look at the following FAQ which explains where everything is; www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/guides-for-claimants/faq/forum.
We would advise you to contact your local Welfare Rights Organisation; advicelocal.uk, they will be able to take all your circumstances into consideration.
I will try and answer some of your queries
You can make a request to the DWP to send you your information, this is called a subject access request; www.gov.uk/guidance/request-your-persona...or-work-and-pensions.
In regard to being paid an extra premium, LCW £156.11. This was abolished to new claimants from April 2017, as you started claiming UC in 2022, you would not be entitled to this additional element.
If you are placed in the LCWRA group then the backdate will depend on a number of factors;
1) did you request a change in circumstances
2) did the DWP send you a review
Your local Welfare Rights Organisation will be able to explain this to you taking all your circumstances into consideration.
Gary
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
The following user(s) said Thank You: CathyP
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- CathyP
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1 month 9 hours ago #303300 by CathyP
Replied by CathyP on topic Help with WCA
Thank you!
I'm still waiting for a reply / response re my WCA submitted by 07 Aug 2024!
Every time I ask in my UC journal, all I get back is, effectively "we cannot access that system and cannot tell you".
Around the start of March 2025, they stopped requesting further Fit Notes from the GP, but did not say anything about that nor tell me why, even when I got one from my GP as UC hadn't told me I didn't need to provide them any more.
Apparently, they don't need them any more.
But they cannot tell me anything about the WCA or any additional out or work benefit I may be be entitled to.
Separately to that, I have had a PIP review which they largely based on my responses to the WCA assessment I completed ( and took me over a hundred hours to to), but also a telephone assessment which a good friend of mine was conferenced in on which the assessor was aware of, where the assessor talked over me almost from the start.
I have asked for a mandatory reassessment of the PIP review as much utterly ignored many issues, but, due to anxiety & stress, plus lack of time due to multiple appointments due to having many co-morbidities, means I keep running out of time to respond. Plus, anxiety, arthritis and a tremor make it difficult to respond quickly.
I don't know what to do re the WCA?
UC are no help at all when I've asked as they say they have no access to the system - it's their damned system!
I'm not an idiot. just in a lot of pain most of the time, plus have huge issues with anxiety & depression. The latter makes it so difficult to engage at times (plus with things like my various debt issues...) But, the last PIP review didn't take account of the fact I have (many) thousands in arrears as I struggle to engage / deal with financial stuff that the PIP assessor simply did not acknowledge!
How do I get this across to them in my request for a statutory review?
I'm still waiting for a reply / response re my WCA submitted by 07 Aug 2024!
Every time I ask in my UC journal, all I get back is, effectively "we cannot access that system and cannot tell you".
Around the start of March 2025, they stopped requesting further Fit Notes from the GP, but did not say anything about that nor tell me why, even when I got one from my GP as UC hadn't told me I didn't need to provide them any more.
Apparently, they don't need them any more.
But they cannot tell me anything about the WCA or any additional out or work benefit I may be be entitled to.
Separately to that, I have had a PIP review which they largely based on my responses to the WCA assessment I completed ( and took me over a hundred hours to to), but also a telephone assessment which a good friend of mine was conferenced in on which the assessor was aware of, where the assessor talked over me almost from the start.
I have asked for a mandatory reassessment of the PIP review as much utterly ignored many issues, but, due to anxiety & stress, plus lack of time due to multiple appointments due to having many co-morbidities, means I keep running out of time to respond. Plus, anxiety, arthritis and a tremor make it difficult to respond quickly.
I don't know what to do re the WCA?
UC are no help at all when I've asked as they say they have no access to the system - it's their damned system!
I'm not an idiot. just in a lot of pain most of the time, plus have huge issues with anxiety & depression. The latter makes it so difficult to engage at times (plus with things like my various debt issues...) But, the last PIP review didn't take account of the fact I have (many) thousands in arrears as I struggle to engage / deal with financial stuff that the PIP assessor simply did not acknowledge!
How do I get this across to them in my request for a statutory review?
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4 weeks 8 hours ago #303398 by CathyP
Replied by CathyP on topic Help with WCA
I have not recieved a reply here in over 2 months!
Wow, that is not unlike the DWP!
I still have not heard from the DWP re my WCA submitted for 7 Aug 2024 - which the DWP admitted to having as they used it for a review of my PIP assessment a short while ago that resulted in me getting higher rate for mobility and standard rate for daily living, which I am now asking for a statutory review on!
Why do we have to go to appeal on almost everything?
Why do we even have to do that to get our user IDs updated here (mine is wrong by one character due to a mis-type my name - a mistake due to arthritis and a tremor!!! - please make it easier to enter details!!! It's a site / group for people with disabilities after all!!!)
I dont know how to find answers here, nor how to expect answers as nothing is clear here, any more than it is on any DWP site.
Please don't make the same mistakes they do!
Wow, that is not unlike the DWP!
I still have not heard from the DWP re my WCA submitted for 7 Aug 2024 - which the DWP admitted to having as they used it for a review of my PIP assessment a short while ago that resulted in me getting higher rate for mobility and standard rate for daily living, which I am now asking for a statutory review on!
Why do we have to go to appeal on almost everything?
Why do we even have to do that to get our user IDs updated here (mine is wrong by one character due to a mis-type my name - a mistake due to arthritis and a tremor!!! - please make it easier to enter details!!! It's a site / group for people with disabilities after all!!!)
I dont know how to find answers here, nor how to expect answers as nothing is clear here, any more than it is on any DWP site.
Please don't make the same mistakes they do!
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4 weeks 7 hours ago #303400 by CathyP
Replied by CathyP on topic Help with WCA
I didn't know I could appeal anything when I got that letter saying I was put into the a group that didn't have to look for work...
The DWP told me nothing at all.
My work coach said nothing to me at all...
I was just left, not knowing anything, just not having to get to the job centre any longer...
My mental health was utterly rock bottom at the time...
I hadn't slept in over 2 yrs and still wasn't sleeping...
I still struggle with sleep, 5yrs on... from the 1st covid lockdown, not surprising, as I have done all my life...
I don't know why everyone, the DWP included, assumes everyone knows what your rights are!
I damn well didnt!
Its now almost 8 months since I submitted my WCA!
Everything on the UC side of things has gone silent.
I'm about to submit my appeal regarding my PIP Review.
I can't even get an an answer in my UC Journal re what will happen if I get a backdated award on the WCA back to 8 Aug 2024 that then puts my bank balance over the £6000 limit! no-one will even answer that!
The DWP told me nothing at all.
My work coach said nothing to me at all...
I was just left, not knowing anything, just not having to get to the job centre any longer...
My mental health was utterly rock bottom at the time...
I hadn't slept in over 2 yrs and still wasn't sleeping...
I still struggle with sleep, 5yrs on... from the 1st covid lockdown, not surprising, as I have done all my life...
I don't know why everyone, the DWP included, assumes everyone knows what your rights are!
I damn well didnt!
Its now almost 8 months since I submitted my WCA!
Everything on the UC side of things has gone silent.
I'm about to submit my appeal regarding my PIP Review.
I can't even get an an answer in my UC Journal re what will happen if I get a backdated award on the WCA back to 8 Aug 2024 that then puts my bank balance over the £6000 limit! no-one will even answer that!
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- BIS
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3 weeks 5 days ago #303470 by BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by BIS on topic Help with WCA
Hi CathyP
I'm sorry that you have been waiting for a reply, but you're mistaken in saying that you have been waiting two months for us to reply. The oldest unanswered post in this thread was four days ago, and you have posted twice more since then, which was over the weekend when we're closed. If we don't have someone available to answer a post, then people sometimes have to wait a little longer, especially if their question falls outside the forum's remit.
I understand you're frustrated with your Universal Credit because you're unable to get an answer from them. Gary did suggest that you try to contact your Local Welfare Rights Organisation, as they should be able to offer you more help than we can. This is not my area of expertise, and apart from putting in an official complaint about not getting a response, I don't know what else to suggest. www.gov.uk/government/organisations/depa...complaints-procedure
If you get a backdated award and it pushes you over the savings limit, the award is not counted for one year.
I'm slightly confused about your PIP. You mentioned that you had requested a Mandatory Reconsideration, but then you stated that you are about to submit an appeal. I'm unsure whether you are still referring to the Mandatory Reconsideration or if you have received a response and are now proceeding with an appeal.
If you have not completed your MR then I would advise you to have a look at the Guide to PIP Appeals (which has the information for a Mandatory Reconsideration) and also a Guide on the Best possible ways to challenge a PIP medical report. I think you may find this second one particularly useful as you said they have ignored a lot of what you said. Did you get hold of your assessor's report - it's called a PA4.
Re - money issues. I'm sorry that you're struggling so much with this and have debts. Did you tie the difficulties you have to your lack of sleep = affecting your concentration, depression etc. You need to emphasise this or assessors will assume you have the ability and you are struggling with money out of choice or laziness - not because of your medical conditions. Have a look at page 75 and 76 of the Huide to PIP claims and reviews. It explains how to answer this question and the court cases that have covered it. It may help you, if you're still struggling to respond on this question. benefitsandwork.co.uk/guides-for-claimants/pip
In your response, you need to make it clear that you only want them to review your daily living. In each question that you want to challenge, you need to show why the assessor was 'mistaken', 'incorrect', 'omitted', misunderstood', etc, etc and point to any evidence that you already sent them to back up what you are saying. It is always a challenge when you have co-morbidities, making it clear how you are affected, but you can't use all of them against every question - pick the most important issues. You can always conclude with a final paragraph that summarises all your key points. Make it as easy as possible for them to understand. I know we all think they should understand - but they often don't, and although you had a medical person do the assessment, the decision maker is not. Be aware that if you are putting in for an MR - there is time limit on their response time, so it may come through quite quickly - (6 weeks) or it could be months (3 - 6 ).
BIS
I'm sorry that you have been waiting for a reply, but you're mistaken in saying that you have been waiting two months for us to reply. The oldest unanswered post in this thread was four days ago, and you have posted twice more since then, which was over the weekend when we're closed. If we don't have someone available to answer a post, then people sometimes have to wait a little longer, especially if their question falls outside the forum's remit.
I understand you're frustrated with your Universal Credit because you're unable to get an answer from them. Gary did suggest that you try to contact your Local Welfare Rights Organisation, as they should be able to offer you more help than we can. This is not my area of expertise, and apart from putting in an official complaint about not getting a response, I don't know what else to suggest. www.gov.uk/government/organisations/depa...complaints-procedure
If you get a backdated award and it pushes you over the savings limit, the award is not counted for one year.
I'm slightly confused about your PIP. You mentioned that you had requested a Mandatory Reconsideration, but then you stated that you are about to submit an appeal. I'm unsure whether you are still referring to the Mandatory Reconsideration or if you have received a response and are now proceeding with an appeal.
If you have not completed your MR then I would advise you to have a look at the Guide to PIP Appeals (which has the information for a Mandatory Reconsideration) and also a Guide on the Best possible ways to challenge a PIP medical report. I think you may find this second one particularly useful as you said they have ignored a lot of what you said. Did you get hold of your assessor's report - it's called a PA4.
Re - money issues. I'm sorry that you're struggling so much with this and have debts. Did you tie the difficulties you have to your lack of sleep = affecting your concentration, depression etc. You need to emphasise this or assessors will assume you have the ability and you are struggling with money out of choice or laziness - not because of your medical conditions. Have a look at page 75 and 76 of the Huide to PIP claims and reviews. It explains how to answer this question and the court cases that have covered it. It may help you, if you're still struggling to respond on this question. benefitsandwork.co.uk/guides-for-claimants/pip
In your response, you need to make it clear that you only want them to review your daily living. In each question that you want to challenge, you need to show why the assessor was 'mistaken', 'incorrect', 'omitted', misunderstood', etc, etc and point to any evidence that you already sent them to back up what you are saying. It is always a challenge when you have co-morbidities, making it clear how you are affected, but you can't use all of them against every question - pick the most important issues. You can always conclude with a final paragraph that summarises all your key points. Make it as easy as possible for them to understand. I know we all think they should understand - but they often don't, and although you had a medical person do the assessment, the decision maker is not. Be aware that if you are putting in for an MR - there is time limit on their response time, so it may come through quite quickly - (6 weeks) or it could be months (3 - 6 ).
BIS
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