Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, as of 31 October 2025 how many existing claimants awaiting Work Capability Assessments have had a) at least one scheduled assessment cancelled by Maximus b) at least two scheduled assessments cancelled by Maximus and c) more than two scheduled assessments cancelled by Maximus.

As of 31 October 2025, there were approximately 74,000 new claimants and 40,000 existing claimants awaiting a Work Capability Assessment (WCA) with Maximus. These figures include all Universal Credit, Employment Support Allowance and Incapacity Benefit claims currently held. These totals also encompass all claimants currently within Maximus’ caseload, including those at the questionnaire stage and those for whom further medical evidence is being gathered.

Very few people who are booked in for an assessment are not seen on the appointed day. However, on occasion unforeseen circumstances do arise, such as a claimant’s file has not been received, the health professional is unavailable due to illness, or there is a significant waiting time on the day. Maximus is required to make every possible effort to ensure the appointment can still go ahead before a cancellation is processed.

If it is anticipated that a claimant cannot be seen on the day of their appointment, or the assessment is delayed, Maximus is required to make every effort to contact the claimant by telephone to apologise and explain the action that will be taken to rearrange the appointment.

The number of new and existing claimants awaiting a WCA which have had their scheduled assessment cancelled by Maximus from the start of the Functional Assessment Services (FAS) contracts on 9 September 2024 up to the 31 October 2025 can be found in the table below.

Please note

• Volumes have been rounded to the nearest 10 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• The above data is derived from unpublished management information which is collected for internal departmental use only and has not been quality assured to Official Statistics Publication standards.
• Cancellation figures by Maximus do not include cancellations made by the department.
• Cancellation figures only include cancellations from FAS operational service commencement date of 9 September 2024 when Maximus commenced the FAS contract.