Work Capability Assessment
(asked on 8th September 2025) - View Source
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many existing claimants are waiting for Work Capability Assessment reassessments.
Department for Work and Pensions continues to monitor waiting times for Work Capability Assessments (WCAs) and works closely with assessment suppliers to manage demand and ensure claimants progress through the process as efficiently as possible. The department remains focused on maintaining a timely assessment service, while ensuring that support is directed to those who need it most.
The number of WCAs for new claimants undertaken in each month since January 2025 are as follows.
Jan 25 | Feb 25 | Mar 25 | Apr 25 | May 25 | Jun 25 | Jul 25 | Aug 25 |
58,000 | 54,000 | 60,000 | 53,000 | 52,000 | 52,000 | 54,000 | 41,000 |
The number of WCAs for existing claimants undertaken in each month since January 2025 are as follows.
Jan 25 | Feb 25 | Mar 25 | Apr 25 | May 25 | Jun 25 | Jul 25 | Aug 25 |
1,900 | 2,100 | 1,700 | 1,200 | 1,400 | 1,900 | 2,100 | 3,000 |
As of 31 August 2025, approximately 110,000 existing claimants were awaiting WCAs. This total includes all claimants currently within the assessment suppliers’ caseload, including those at the questionnaire stage and those for whom further medical evidence is being gathered.
Please note:
- Volumes have been rounded to the nearest 100 or 1000.
- All above data is derived from contractual management information produced by the assessment suppliers.
- The above data is derived from unpublished management information which is collected for internal departmental use only and has not been quality assured to Official Statistics Publication standards.