What is this?

If you are claiming ESA or Universal Credit on the grounds that you have an illness or disability that means that you are unable to work you will be called to have a work capability assessment which is the test to assess your capability for work.

How does this work in practice?

When you submit a new claim for benefit, you will receive a medical questionnaire an ESA50 or UC50 form which will give you the opportunity to provide medical evidence and information to the department prior to the assessment. This will be sent to you and should be returned to the department within 1 month of receiving this as failure to do so, may result in your benefit being stopped.

Any medical evidence that you may have from a GP or other health professional can be included with the form.

The Work Capability Assessment

The regulations state that this assessment should be conducted within 13 weeks of the original claim but it can take longer. It is extremely important that you check your post for this letter and that you attend this appointment. If you are unable to attend this appointment you should contact Atos ASAP to arrange another appointment as failure to attend may result in your benefits being stopped.

When attending the interview, it is always a good idea to take someone with you as you may feel nervous or anxious when attending. At the interview itself, you should always ask for the name of the medical professional and their background, this may be useful information should you need to challenge a decision in the future.

The medical professional will be assessing your ability most often through a line of questioning rather than physical activity against a set of pre-defined criteria which you will be scored against. The evidence collected from this assessment will be fed back to a decision maker who will make the ultimate decision about your claim. Copies of the descriptors can be found at the bottom of this factsheet.

You will need to score at least 15 points to qualify for the Work Related Group or the Support Group as detailed below.

The regulations state that a person can be awarded points if they struggle to complete an activity, safely, to a reasonable standard, repeatedly and in a reasonable time frame.

What is Substantial Risk?

If you feel that your health condition and the side effects of this significantly impact your ability to engage with the workplace or even work related activity, under this route you can be classed as having a limited capability for work without having to satisfy the points criteria above. Factors to consider might include, excessive breathlessness which may cause you to pass out or increased fatigue meaning that you might not be able to keep up with the demands of a busy workplace, which may cause difficulties for you in sustaining employment. A decision maker when assessing your case should consider if this route applies in addition to the points route above. In reality this does not always happen and this can be a useful avenue to explore for a mandatory reconsideration or appeal

The specific regulations for this can be located here for Universal Credit https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/376/schedule/9 and here for Employment and Support Allowance https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2013/9780111531877/regulation/31

Tips for a successful claim

When attending the Work Capability Assessment you can ask the medical professional to record the assessment as this may useful in the future should you need to challenge the decision and they cannot refuse you the right to do this. Should they cancel the appointment, you can appeal and make a complaint as detailed below.

It is always important to be honest in the Work Capability Assessment, if you struggle to complete an activity say so, but adopting this approach and being honest you are far more likely to be successful.  The medical assessor is looking at what you cannot do, not what you can do.  

 

Then what happens?

After the assessment, you will receive a letter with your scores and whether you have been placed in the support group or the work group as stated above. If you have been placed in the workgroup, you will need to attend work focused interviews at the Jobcentre and start the process of getting back into work.

If you have been placed in the Support Group you will be considered far away from work and will not be mandated to take part in work focused interviews although you can do so if you wish.

If you are found to have 0 points or you disagree with the decision:

You can write to the DWP to ask them to look at the decision again, if you feel that the decision maker has not fully considered all of the evidence. If you have updated evidence, you should submit this also. You could also look at issuing a complaint as detailed below.

Whilst you are waiting for the DWP to look at the decision again, you will be subjected to full work requirements by your work coach.

You can then appeal to an independent tribunal if the decision has been upheld and you are still not happy with the decision and they can overrule the original decision from the DWP.

If there has been a change in your condition in that it has worsened or a new condition has developed. You may be able to apply again for this by obtaining new fit notes from your GP.

You could also contact your local MP if you are unhappy with an element of the claim or process.

If you need any assistance at this stage of the claim, please do contact us accordingly.

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Useful contact details

Tribunal Service – https://www.gov.uk/courts-tribunals/first-tier-tribunal-social-security-and-child-support

Customer Relations Manager – the Company that carries out the Work Capability Assessments

Atos Healthcare

Block 1
Wing G Government Buildings
Otley Roa
Lawnswo
Leeds LS16 5PU 

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The ESA descriptors

 

Part 1: Physical disabilities 

Activity 1: Mobilising unaided by another person with or without a walking stick, manual wheelchair or other aid if such aid can reasonably be used
Descriptor:

(a) Cannot either:
i) mobilise more than 50 metres on level ground without stopping in order to avoid significant discomfort or exhaustion;
ii) or repeatedly mobilise 50 metres within a reasonable timescale because of significant discomfort or exhaustion.
15 Points
b) Cannot mount or descend two steps unaided by another person even with the support of a handrail.
9 Points
Cannot either:
i) mobilise more than 100 metres on level ground without stopping in order to avoid significant discomfort or exhaustion;
or
(ii) repeatedly mobilise 100 metres within a reasonable timescale because of significant discomfort or exhaustion.
9 Points
(d) Cannot either:
(i) mobilise more than 200 metres on level ground without stopping in order to avoid significant discomfort or exhaustion;
or
(ii) repeatedly mobilise 200 metres within a reasonable timescale because of significant discomfort or exhaustion.
6 Points
(e) None of the above apply.
0 Points 

Activity2: Standing and sitting
Descriptor:

(a) Cannot move between one seated position and another seated position located next to one another without receiving physical assistance from another person.
15 Points
(b) Cannot, for the majority of the time, remain at a work station, either:
(i) standing unassisted by another person (even if free to move around); or (ii) sitting (even in an adjustable chair) for more than 30 minutes, before needing to move away in order to avoid significant discomfort or exhaustion.
9 Points
(c) Cannot, for the majority of the time, remain at a work station, either:
(i) standing unassisted by another person (even if free to move around); or (ii) sitting (even in an adjustable chair) for more than an hour before needing to move away in order to avoid significant discomfort or exhaustion.
6 points
(d) None of the above apply
0 Points 

Activity3: Reaching
Descriptor:

(a) Cannot raise either arm as if to put something in the top pocket of a coat or jacket.
15 Points
(b) Cannot raise either arm to top of head as if to put on a hat.
9 Points
(c) Cannot raise either arm above head height as if to reach for something.
6 Points
(d) None of the above apply.
0 Points 

Activity 4: Picking up and moving or transferring by the use of the upper body and arms
Descriptor:

(a) Cannot pick up and move a 0.5 litre carton full of liquid.
15 Points
(b) Cannot pick up and move a one litre carton full of liquid
9 Points
(c) Cannot transfer a light but bulky object such as an empty cardboard box.
6 Points
(d) None of the above apply
0 points 

Activity 5: Manual dexterity 
Descriptor:

(a) Cannot either:
(i) press a button, such as a telephone keypad; or (ii) turn the pages of a book
with either hand.
15 Points
(b) Cannot pick up a £1 coin or equivalent with either hand.
15 Points
(c) Cannot use a pen or pencil to make a meaningful mark.
9 Points
(d) Cannot use a suitable keyboard or mouse.
9 Points
(e) None of the above apply.
0 Points 

Activity 6: Making self understood through speaking, writing, typing, or other means normally used, unaided by another person
Descriptor:

(a) Cannot convey a simple message, such as the presence of a hazard.
15 Points
(b) Has significant difficulty conveying a simple message to strangers.
15 Points
(c) Has some difficulty conveying a simple message to strangers.
6 Points
(d) None of the above apply.
0 points 

Activity 7: Understanding communication by both verbal means (such as hearing or lip reading) and non-verbal means (such as reading 16 point print) using any aid it is reasonable to expect them to use, unaided by another person
Descriptor:

(a) Cannot understand a simple message due to sensory impairment, such as the location of a fire escape.
15 Points
(b) Has significant difficulty understanding a simple message from a stranger due to sensory impairment.
15 Points
(c) Has some difficulty understanding a simple message from a stranger due to sensory impairment.
6 Points
(d) None of the above apply.
0 Points 

Activity 8: Navigation and maintaining safety, using a guide dog or other aid if normally used
Descriptor:

(a) Unable to navigate around familiar surroundings, without being accompanied by another person, due to sensory impairment.
15 Points
(b) Cannot safely complete a potentially hazardous task such as crossing the road, without being accompanied by another person, due to sensory impairment.
15 Points
(c) Unable to navigate around unfamiliar surroundings, without being accompanied by another person, due to sensory impairment.
9 points
(d) None of the above apply.
0 Points 

Activity 9: Absence or loss of control leading to extensive evacuation of the bowel and/or bladder, other than enuresis (bed-wetting) despite the presence of any aids or adaptations normally used
Descriptor:

(a) At least once a month experiences:
(i) loss of control leading to extensive evacuation of the bowel and/or voiding of the bladder; or (ii) substantial leakage of the contents of a collecting device sufficient to require cleaning and a change in clothing.
15 Points
(b) At risk of loss of control leading to extensive evacuation of the bowel and/or voiding of the bladder, sufficient to require cleaning and a change in clothing, if not able to reach a toilet quickly.
6 Points
(c) None of the above apply.
0 Points 

Activity 10: Consciousness during waking moments
Descriptor:

(a) At least once a week, has an involuntary episode of lost or altered consciousness resulting in significantly disrupted awareness or concentration.
15 Points
(b) At least once a month, has an involuntary episode of lost or altered consciousness resulting in significantly disrupted awareness or concentration.
6 Points
(c) None of the above apply.
0 Points 

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The ESA descriptors

 

Part 2: Mental, cognitive and intellectual function assessment 

Activity 11: Learning tasks
Descriptor:

(a) Cannot learn how to complete a simple task, such as setting an alarm clock.
15 Points
(b) Cannot learn anything beyond a simple task, such as setting an alarm clock.
9 Points
(c) Cannot learn anything beyond a moderately complex task, such as the
steps involved in operating a washing machine to clean clothes.
6 Points
(d) None of the above apply.
0 Points 

Activity 12: Awareness of everyday hazards (such as boiling water or sharp objects)
Descriptor:

(a) Reduced awareness of everyday hazards leads to a significant risk of:
(i) injury to self or others; or (ii) damage to property or possessions such that they require supervision for the majority of the time to maintain safety.
15 Points
(b) Reduced awareness of everyday hazards leads to a significant risk of
(i) injury to self or others; or (ii) damage to property or possessions such that they frequently require supervision to maintain safety.
9 Points
(c) Reduced awareness of everyday hazards leads to a significant risk of:
(i) injury to self or others; or (ii) damage to property or possessions such that they occasionally require supervision to maintain safety.
6 Points
(d) None of the above apply.
0 Points 

Activity 13: Initiating and completing personal action (which means planning, organisation, problem solving, prioritising or switching tasks)
Descriptor:

(a) Cannot, due to impaired mental function, reliably initiate or complete at least 2 sequential personal actions.
15 Points
(b) Cannot, due to impaired mental function, reliably initiate or complete at least 2 personal actions for the majority of the time.
9 Points
(c) Frequently cannot, due to impaired mental function, reliably initiate or complete at least 2 personal actions.
6 Points
(d) None of the above apply.
0 Points 

Activity 14: Coping with change
Descriptor:

(a) Cannot cope with any change to the extent that day to day life cannot be managed.
15 Points
(b) Cannot cope with minor planned change (such as a pre-arranged change to the routine time scheduled for a lunch break), to the extent that overall day to day life is made significantly more difficult.
9 Points
(c) Cannot cope with minor unplanned change (such as the timing of an appointment on the day it is due to occur), to the extent that overall, day to day life is made significantly more difficult.
6 Points
(d) None of the above apply.
0 Points 

Activity 15: Getting about
Descriptor:

(a) Cannot get to any specified place with which the claimant is familiar.
15 Points
(b) Is unable to get to a specified place with which the claimant is familiar, without being accompanied by another person.
9 Points
(c) Is unable to get to a specified place with which the claimant is unfamiliar without being accompanied by another person.
6 Points
(d) None of the above apply.
0 Points 

Activity 16: Coping with social engagement due to cognitive impairment or mental disorder
Descriptor:

(a) Engagement in social contact is always precluded due to difficulty relating to others or significant distress experienced by the individual.
15 points
(b) Engagement in social contact with someone unfamiliar to the claimant is always precluded due to difficulty relating to others or significant distress experienced by the individual.
9 Points
(c) Engagement in social contact with someone unfamiliar to the claimant is not possible for the majority of the time due to difficulty relating to others or significant distress experienced by the individual.
6 Points
(d) None of the above apply.
0 Points 

Activity 17: Appropriateness of behaviour with other people, due to cognitive impairment or mental disorder
Descriptor:

 

(a) Has, on a daily basis, uncontrollable episodes of aggressive or disinhibited behaviour that would be unreasonable in any workplace.
15 Points
(b) Frequently has uncontrollable episodes of aggressive or disinhibited behaviour that would be unreasonable in any workplace.
15 Points
(c) Occasionally has uncontrollable episodes of aggressive or disinhibited behaviour that would be unreasonable in any workplace.
9 Points
(d) None of the above apply.
0 Points 

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Assessment of whether a claimant has limited capability for work related activity 

Activity 1: Mobilising unaided by another person with or without a walking stick, manual wheelchair or other aid if such aid can reasonably be used
Descriptor:

Cannot either:
(a) mobilise more than 50 metres on level ground without stopping in order to avoid significant discomfort or exhaustion; or
(b) repeatedly mobilise 50 metres within a reasonable timescale because of significant discomfort or exhaustion. 

Activity 2: Transferring from one seated position to another
Descriptor:

Cannot move between one seated position and another seated position located next to one another without receiving physical assistance from another person. 

Activity 3: Reaching
Descriptor:

Cannot raise either arm as if to put something in the top pocket of a coat or jacket. 

Activity 4: Picking up and moving or transferring by the use of the upper body and arms (excluding standing, sitting, bending or kneeling and all other activities specified in this Schedule)
Descriptor:

Cannot pick up and move a 0.5 litre carton full of liquid. 

Activity 5: Manual dexterity
Descriptor:

Cannot either:
(a) press a button, such as a telephone keypad; or
(b) turn the pages of a book with either hand. 

Activity 6: Making self understood through speaking, writing, typing, or other means normally used
Descriptor:

Cannot convey a simple message, such as the presence of a hazard. 

Activity 7: Understanding communication by hearing, lip reading, reading 16 point print or using any aid if reasonably used
Descriptor:

Cannot understand a simple message due to sensory impairment, such as the location of a fire escape. 

Activity 8: Absence or loss of control over extensive evacuation of the bowel and/or voiding of the bladder, other than enuresis (bed-wetting), despite the presence of any aids or adaptations normally used
Descriptor:

At least once a week experiences:
(a) loss of control leading to extensive evacuation of the bowel and/or voiding of the bladder; or
(b) substantial leakage of the contents of a collecting device sufficient to require the individual to clean themselves and change clothing. 

Activity 9: Learning tasks
Descriptor:

Cannot learn how to complete a simple task, such as setting an alarm clock, due to cognitive impairment or mental disorder. 

Activity 10: Awareness of hazard
Descriptor:

Reduced awareness of everyday hazards, due to cognitive impairment or mental disorder, leads to a significant risk of:
(a) injury to self or others; or
(b) damage to property or possessions s uch that they require supervision for the majority of the time to maintain safety. 

Activity 11: Initiating and completing personal action (which means planning, organisation, problem solving, prioritising or switching tasks)
Descriptor:

Cannot, due to impaired mental function, reliably initiate or complete at least two sequential personal actions. 

Activity 12: Coping with change
Descriptor:

Cannot cope with any change, due to cognitive impairment or mental disorder, to the extent that day to day life cannot be managed. 

Activity 13: Coping with social engagement, due to cognitive impairment or mental disorder
Descriptor:

Engagement in social contact is always precluded due to difficulty relating to others or significant distress experienced by the individual. 

Activity 14: Appropriateness of behaviour with other people, due to cognitive impairment or mental disorder
Descriptor:

Has, on a daily basis, uncontrollable episodes of aggressive or disinhibited behaviour that would be unreasonable in any workplace. 

Activity 15: Conveying food or drink to the mouth
Descriptor:

(a) Cannot convey food or drink to the claimant’s own mouth without receiving physical assistance from someone else;
(b) Cannot convey food or drink to the claimant’s own mouth without repeatedly stopping, experiencing breathlessness or severe discomfort;
(c) Cannot convey food or drink to the claimant’s own mouth without receiving regular prompting given by someone else in the claimant’s physical presence; or
(d) Owing to a severe disorder of mood or behaviour, fails to convey food or drink to the claimant’s own mouth without receiving:
(i) physical assistance from someone else; or
(ii) regular prompting given by someone else in the claimant’s presence. 

Activity 16: Chewing or swallowing food or drink
Descriptor:

(a) Cannot chew or swallow food or drink;
(b) Cannot chew or swallow food or drink without repeatedly stopping, experiencing breathlessness or severe discomfort;
(c) Cannot chew or swallow food or drink without repeatedly receiving regular prompting given by someone else in the claimant’s presence; or
(d) Owing to a severe disorder of mood or behaviour, fails to:
(i) chew or swallow food or drink; or (ii) chew or swallow food or drink without regular prompting given by someone else in the claimant’s presence. 

This advice is provided by our Benefits Advisor, Robert Mandelstam. The information provided above is up to date for the financial year ending 5th April 2026.

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