Who counts as a pre‑2026 claimant and keeps the higher LCWRA rate?
The article explains that LCWRA is being split into a higher and lower rate from 6 April 2026, with only certain claimants protected at the higher rate. To qualify as a pre‑2026 claimant, a person must be linked to LCWRA entitlement before 6 April 2026, even if payment does not actually start until later.
You will generally be treated as a pre‑2026 claimant if you:
- Already had LCWRA included in a UC award before 6 April 2026 and have remained continuously entitled; or
- Were in the ESA Support Group before moving to UC; or
- Reported a health condition and requested (or was awaiting) a Work Capability Assessment before 6 April 2026, and are later found to have LCWRA; or
- Were serving the 3‑month relevant period before April 2026 and LCWRA is awarded afterwards.
The key point stressed in the article is that protection is about timing, not payment. If the LCW process was underway before April 2026, the claimant should still receive the higher protected LCWRA rate, even if the decision or first payment happens later.
This clarification significantly widens protection compared to earlier understanding and is particularly important for:
- People waiting on delayed WCAs
- Claimants newly submitting fit notes in late 2025/early 2026
- Advisers calculating deadlines based on assessment periods