Help with WCA

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