Getting Universal Credit if you’re sick or disabled

You're pregnant

You should get LCWRA automatically if working or getting ready for work could be a risk to your health or your baby's health. Tell your work coach and make a note on your online account.

You’ll need to wait 3 months to get the extra money. If you already do some work-related requirements, the DWP might decide you can stop doing them before 3 months.

They might still ask you to complete a UC50 form - especially if you have another health condition or disability.

You get Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

If you have LCWRA, you’ll get the extra money straight away.

You might still need to fill in the UC50 form and go to an assessment - it depends which type of ESA you get.

If you get new-style ESA

If you’re in the ESA support group, you'll automatically have LCWRA.

If you’re in the ESA Work-Related Activity Group, you’ll automatically have LCW.

If you already have LCW or LCWRA for new-style ESA, you don't need to fill in another form or have a medical assessment for Universal Credit.

The DWP might still say you need another assessment for your Universal Credit claim, but you don't. If the DWP say you need another assessment, you can challenge your Universal Credit decision.

If you got old-style ESA

You can get LCW or LCWRA straight away if you:

• were getting ESA in the ESA support group or the Work-Related Activity Group
• claimed Universal Credit before you stopped being eligible for ESA

You'll still have LCW or LCWRA on Universal Credit as long as there's no break between your old-style ESA claim and your Universal Credit claim.

The DWP might send you a UC50 form to check you’re still eligible for LCW or LCWRA.

You're over State Pension age and getting other benefits

You'll get LCWRA automatically if you're over State Pension age and getting either:

• Attendance Allowance
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP) with the 'enhanced daily living component'
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA) with the 'highest rate care component'

You’ll need to wait 3 months to get the extra money.

You'll get LCW automatically if you're getting either:

• PIP, but not the enhanced daily living component
• DLA, but not the highest rate care component

The DWP should also send you a UC50 form to check if you should be getting LCWRA instead of LCW. If they don’t, call the Universal Credit helpline or request it through your online account.

You're in hospital or quarantine

If you go into hospital or drug or alcohol rehab for at least 24 hours, update your Universal Credit online account as soon as you can.

You'll have LCW while you're in hospital. You'll also have LCW after you come out, if the DWP agree you need time to recover.

You'll also have LCW if you've been given official notice not to work because you have an infectious disease.

The DWP should also send you a UC50 form to check if you should be getting LCWRA. If they don’t, call the Universal Credit helpline.

You’re having cancer treatment, or recovering from it

You're likely to have LCWRA if you're either:

• being treated with chemotherapy or radiotherapy
• likely to start treatment in the next 6 months
• recovering from treatment

The DWP will usually still send you a UC50 form to complete. You’ll usually need to wait 3 months to get the extra money.

If you’re diagnosed with a terminal illness and might not live more than a year, you'll always have LCWRA. You can stop doing work-related requirements and get the extra money straight away.

If you have a terminal illness, you don’t need to complete a UC50 form. You’ll need to send the DWP a medical report called a DS1500. This can be completed by a doctor or another health professional. You don’t have to pay for it.

Ask your doctor or another healthcare professional to email the DS1500 to the DWP to save time.

If you’re terminally ill but your doctor expects you to live more than a year, you should talk to an adviser.

You have a serious illness

There are some treatments and conditions where you'll get LCW or LCWRA automatically. If you have LCWRA, you might need to wait 3 months to get the extra money.

You'll still need to put a note on your online account mentioning your diagnosis and explaining how your illness or treatment stops you working or preparing for work.

You’ll have LCW if you're having:

• weekly dialysis
• plasma exchange
• intravenous feeding

Your LCW will continue if you've finished one of these treatments and the DWP agree you need time to recover. The DWP should also send you a UC50 form to check if you should be getting LCWRA.

If you’re diagnosed with a terminal illness and might not live more than a year, you'll always have LCWRA. You can stop doing work-related requirements and get the extra money straight away.

If you have a terminal illness, you don’t need to complete a UC50 form. You’ll need to send the DWP a medical report called a DS1500. This can only be completed by your doctor. You don’t have to pay for it.

Ask your GP or consultant to email the DS1500 to the DWP to save time.

If you’re terminally ill but your doctor expects you to live more than a year, you should talk to an adviser.