DWP publishes Universal Credit Work Capability Assessment statistics

What the DWP has published

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) announced on 27 May 2026 the publication of updated official statistics covering Work Capability Assessment (WCA) outcomes for Universal Credit claimants. The statistics, available on GOV.UK, record the number of people claiming Universal Credit whose ability to work is restricted because of a health condition or disability.

The release is part of the DWP’s regular statistical output on Universal Credit and provides figures broken down by assessment outcome. Specific headline numbers from the publication are pending full verification against the released data tables, but the statistical series tracks three possible outcomes: fit for work, Limited Capability for Work (LCW), and Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity (LCWRA).

The DWP is the government department responsible for welfare, pensions, and child maintenance policy in Great Britain. Its official statistics releases are governed by the UK Statistics Authority’s Code of Practice.

What the Work Capability Assessment measures

The Work Capability Assessment is the process used by the DWP to establish whether a Universal Credit claimant’s health condition or disability places restrictions on their capacity to work. Every claimant who reports a health condition or disability as part of their UC claim may be referred for a WCA.

The assessment considers both physical and mental health conditions. A healthcare professional reviews the claimant’s evidence and the outcome determines which of three categories applies:

• Fit for Work: The claimant is subject to standard work-search requirements as a condition of their UC award.
• Limited Capability for Work (LCW): The claimant is not required to look for work but, for most people, does not receive an additional payment element in their UC award.
• Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity (LCWRA): The claimant has the most significant restrictions, is not required to look for work or prepare for work, and receives an additional amount within their UC payment.

The DWP publishes guidance on WCAs and what claimants can expect from the process on GOV.UK.

Context: what this statistical series covers

The WCA statistics series gives a picture of the health-related caseload within Universal Credit at any given point. As the government continues to migrate claimants from legacy benefits such as Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) onto Universal Credit through the Managed Migration programme, the number of people captured in this statistical series is expected to change.

On 28 May 2026, the DWP also published separate qualitative research examining how customers transferred from legacy benefits manage their Universal Credit claim. That research, available on GOV.UK, is intended to give the department insights into the practical experience of claiming UC after migration, including for those with health conditions.

A further research publication released on the same date examined the experiences of disadvantaged groups on Universal Credit, including people with care experience, ex-offenders, those who have experienced homelessness, and people with substance dependencies.

How WCA decisions affect Universal Credit payments

For claimants placed in the LCWRA group, the practical financial impact is significant. This group receives an additional LCWRA element within their Universal Credit award. The amount is set by the government and reviewed periodically in line with benefit uprating decisions.

Claimants in the LCW group who were not already receiving a disability premium before their WCA (that is, most new UC claimants) do not receive the additional payment. This distinction has been a source of ongoing debate between welfare organisations and the government.

Citizens Advice provides free, impartial guidance on what UC payments you may be entitled to based on your WCA outcome, at citizensadvice.org.uk.

Limitations of the figures pending full publication

At the time of writing, the DWP’s statistical announcement confirms the release of updated WCA figures but the full breakdown of outcomes by volume, region, health condition type, and appeal rate is subject to verification against the published data tables. This article will be updated as those figures are confirmed.

What the statistics are expected to cover, based on the structure of previous releases in this series, includes:

• Total number of UC claimants referred for a WCA in the reference period.
• Breakdown by assessment outcome (fit for work, LCW, LCWRA).
• Trends over time as the UC caseload grows through managed migration.

Readers who need the precise current figures should consult the official statistics page directly on GOV.UK.

What to do if you disagree with your WCA outcome

If the DWP informs you that your Work Capability Assessment outcome is unfavourable, you have formal options to challenge the decision. Citizens Advice recommends the following steps:

1. Request a Mandatory Reconsideration. You must do this before you can appeal. Ask the DWP to look at the decision again, ideally within one month of receiving it, and provide any additional medical evidence you have.
2. Appeal to an independent tribunal. If the mandatory reconsideration does not change the outcome, you can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Social Entitlement Chamber), which is independent of the DWP.
3. Get free welfare advice. Organisations including Citizens Advice, Turn2us, and Scope can help you gather evidence and prepare your case.

Statistics from tribunal services consistently show that a significant proportion of WCA appeals decided at tribunal are found in the claimant’s favour, which welfare organisations cite as evidence that first-instance decisions are not always accurate. Figures pending verification from the latest tribunal statistics.

Where to find support and further information

For anyone affected by a Work Capability Assessment decision or a change in their Universal Credit award, the following official and independent sources provide guidance specific to England, Scotland, and Wales:

• DWP Universal Credit guidance: gov.uk/universal-credit
• Citizens Advice benefits help: citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits
• Turn2us benefits calculator: benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk
• MoneySavingExpert benefits guide: moneysavingexpert.com/family/benefits-check

For broader context on Universal Credit changes and welfare policy, see our coverage in the Welfare UK hub.

You may also find our related article on PIP administrative exercise statistics useful if you are affected by both PIP and Universal Credit health-related decisions.