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Will I need a Work Capability Assessment to claim benefits?

Understand if you can claim Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit (UC) with a limited capability for work element.

Within this section

  1. What is the Work Capability Assessment?

    The Work Capability Assessment (WCA) is used by the DWP to decide whether welfare claimants are entitled to sickness benefits. Find out more.

  2. The health questionnaire

    Learn how to complete the Capability for Work questionnaire if you live with a mental health condition.

  3. Completing the Health Questionnaire with a mental health condition

    Learn how to complete UC50 and ESA50 health questionnaires with a mental health condition.

  4. Medical assessment

    Learn more about the Work Capability medical assessment and how to prepare for it.

  5. What happens after the Work Capability Assessment?

    Find out what happens once you have submitted the Work Capability Assessment health questionnaire and been to the medical assessment.

  6. Work Capability Assessment decisions and groups explained

    Limited capability for work and limited capability for work-related activity. What do these groups mean for me?

  7. Sample letter

    Download this work capability assessment medical request sample letter to support your Employment Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal credit (UC) claim.

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What is the Work Capability Assessment?
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