Understanding Universal Credit payments

After a Work Capability Assessment, you may be in the limited capability for work and work-related activity (LCWRA) group.

This means you will start receiving the LCWRA element. This is in addition to your standard Universal Credit allowance. It should arrive with your next Universal Credit payment.

When you are in the LCWRA group, you do not have:

• work coach appointments or 
• work requirements (Universal Credit claimant commitment)

The DWP will cancel booked appointments and work requirements, if you had any.

Universal Credit claimant commitment

You must wait 3 months before you can start receiving a LCWRA payment. This is sometimes called a ‘relevant period’.

Payments can be backdated to 3 months after you submit your fit note.

A fit note is a statement from your GP or healthcare professional saying whether you are fit to work.

Fit notes (GOV.UK)

You will probably need to wait longer than 3 months for a Work Capability Assessment.

Backdated LCWRA payments are separate from the rest of your Universal Credit payments. They might be paid:

• at a different time
• a few weeks after the DWP decides you are in the LCWRA group

These payments do not count as income so will not affect your benefits.

If someone in your family has started to receive certain benefits, you might be eligible for extra Universal Credit payments. This will be from the same time they receive their benefit.

For example, if your child starts to receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA), you may be eligible for disabled child element. Tell the DWP by:

• writing a message in your online journal
• calling the Universal Credit helpline 

Your child’s DLA might get backdated. If so, your disabled child element payments will also be backdated to the same date.

Get advice to:

• check what you might be eligible for
• find out which UC elements can be backdated and how long for

If you need free benefits advice or support in person:

Find an adviser (Advicelocal)

Find a local benefits adviser (Turn2us)

If you are eligible for backdated payments, you should receive them automatically. Your Universal Credit online journal will show what you are getting.

Sign into your Universal Credit account

In case you do not receive them, it is a good idea to keep a record of dates like:

• when you contact the DWP
• when you apply for benefits

This can help you work out when you might be due backdated payments.

If you think you should be receiving backdated payments and you are not, you can:

• write a message in your online journal
• call the Universal Credit helpline

You might not get backdated payments if the DWP says they have overpaid a benefit in the past. They will use the money to pay off what you owe.

If your benefits have been overpaid

Log into your online account to see your monthly statement. This will show your Universal Credit payments for that month. 

If your statement says ‘nil award’, this means that your Universal Credit payment is £0 for that month.

It might be because you have had other types of income or earnings.

Universal Credit and earnings (GOV.UK)

Use a free online benefits calculator to:

• find out what you are entitled to
• see how changes would affect your benefits

Benefits calculator (Turn2us)

You can:

• post a message in your online journal
• call the Universal Credit helpline

Statutory sick pay and Universal Credit

Statutory sick pay (SSP) is treated as income. This means if you have been receiving SSP, it will reduce your Universal Credit.

If your SSP has stopped, your Universal Credit should start to increase again.

If it has not increased, leave a note in your online journal.

Statutory sick pay (SSP)

Overpaid means you’ve been paid more benefit than you were entitled to. It could happen because:

• you did not give enough information on your claim form
• you did not report a change of circumstances
• the DWP has made a mistake
• your bank or building society has made a mistake

What is an overpayment under the Universal Credit system (Turn2us)

If you have been overpaid, the DWP will deduct money from your Universal Credit. Your monthly statement on your online journal will say:

• which benefits you have been overpaid
• how much you have to pay back

To find out about paying back overpayments you can:

• write a message in your online journal
• call the Universal Credit helpline

Challenging an overpayment

If you think you have not been overpaid, you can ask for a mandatory reconsideration.

Challenge a benefit decision: mandatory reconsideration (GOV.UK)

You need to explain why you were not overpaid and give evidence to show this.

You normally need to do a mandatory reconsideration within a month of the DWP saying you’ve been overpaid.

Overpayments under the Universal Credit system (Turn2us)

You can get support to do a mandatory reconsideration.

Scope helpline

Appealing a benefits decision

Asking for lower repayments

You can try to lower your monthly repayments if you’re:

• struggling to afford food or essentials
• getting into debt with other bills

Speak to DWP Debt Management.

Help with debt

There are places where you can get free or cheap food. 

Free food and food banks 

If you need support with energy bills, there is some support available from government and local authorities.

Government help with energy bills

Contact Scope to arrange an appointment if you would like free phone or email support.

Contact Scope’s Disability Energy Support

Help with bills and the cost of living