The government hopes to save £3 billion by 2029/ 2030 by freezing the rate of the LCWRA element and introducing
a new lower rate for some newer claimants. Here is new law- Universal Credit Act 2025 section 2 schedule 1 and the
From April 2026 there will be two rates of the LCWRA element-
● £217.26 for those entitled to the LCWRA element from 6/4/2026.
● £429.80 for either- a pre 2016 claimant continuously entitled to the element since 6/4/2026. (excluding up to 6
months if there was no entitlement due to excess income).
or a severe conditions criteria claimant-
at least one of the descriptors set out in Schedule 7 UC regulations 2013 constantly applies to the claimant
and will do so for the rest of the claimant’s life. Also diagnosis- has been diagnosed by an appropriately
qualifed health care professional in the course of the provision of NHS services
or terminally ill
● Clients can ask for a mandatory reconsideration and appeal against a decision that they are not entitled to the
higher rate of the LCWRA element.
Click here for our at a glance guide to Changes announced in the Spring Statement 2025. We update this guide as
further changes are announced.
Failing to migrate by fnal deadline day- Migration from ESA- to UC-
ESA claimants who fail to migrate to universal credit by their fnal deadline should have the limited capability for
work-related activity (LCWRA) element included from the start of any subsequent claim. Here's the regulation
Regulation 21 of the Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2014 and the caselaw- JW v Secretary of
State for Work and Pensions (UC) [2022] UKUT 117 (AAC).
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