DWP issues new Universal Credit update addressing assessments for claimants

A man checks his finances

The DWP has issued an update on how work capability assessments work for Universal Credit for disabled claimants.

The key assessment is used to determine if a claimant who has a health condition or disability is fit for work andif they need to prepare to enter the workforce in future.

Labour MP Mary Glindon asked the Government if there were any plans for an assessment of “the potential impact of proposed changes to work capability assessments on people with Parkinson’s disease”.

People with Parkinson’s have a loss of nerve cells in the brain that causes symptoms such as involuntary shaking, slow movement and stiff muscles.

Disabilities minister Mims Davies said in response: “The work capability assessment (WCA) assesses individuals against a set of descriptors to determine how their health condition or disability affects their ability to work.

“The WCA takes into account the functional effects of fluctuating and degenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s.

“A key principle is that the WCA considers the impact that a person’s disability or health condition has on them, not the condition itself.

“Claimants with the most severe health conditions and disabilities whose condition is unlikely to ever improve are no longer routinely reassessed.”

A couple check their finances

How the assessments work is changing in 2025, to focus on what a person can do rather than their limitations.

Officials will use terms such as ‘work preparation’ rather than ‘limited capability for work’, while ‘health group’ will replace ‘limited capability for work and work-related activity’.

“When making decisions on changes to the WCA, we carefully considered over 1300 consultation responses, including from disabled people, people with health conditions, and the organisations that represent and support them. We also engaged directly with clinical experts, employer groups and disability organisations across the country.”

The minister said the upcoming changes to the assessment will mean 371,000 fewer people will be deemed as having limited capability for work and work-related activity by 2028-29.

A further 29,000 individuals will be deemed to be fit for work by 2028-29 and will get more intensive support to search for and secure work than under the current rules.

The minister added: “These figures are not based on specific conditions. This is because the WCA considers the impact that a person’s disability or health condition has on their ability to work, not the condition itself.

“The department routinely engages with a wide range of organisations that represent and support disabled people and people with health conditions, including people living with Parkinson’s disease.”

For the latest personal finance news, follow us on Twitter at @ExpressMoney_.