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1. Guides

(Category)

... even if you can actually do an activity How to complete every box in the ESA50 or UC50 questionnaire How to prepare for any sort of assessment What happens at the assessment ESA to UC Migration ...

2. What is the WCA50/ESA50 limited capability for work questionnaire?

(ESA glossary)

Important note:  the ESA50 questionnaire was replaced by the WCA50 questionnaire from 24 November 2025. Members can download our guide to the WCA50 questionnaire from the ESA/UC guides page. What is ...

3. Would you let Maximus help you complete your ESA50 questionnaire?

(News)

Maximus have launched a new telephone support service to help claimants complete their ESA50 capability for work questionnaire. But would you want to use it? Maximus, or Centre for Health and Disability ...

4. ESA mental health claimants being denied chance to complete vital ESA50 form

(News)

... sending them an ESA50 form, Benefits and Work can reveal. Regular readers will be aware that Benefits and Work has been investigating why some ESA claimants are not being sent ESA50 forms prior to a ...

5. New ESA50 claim form on the way

(News)

The DWP has announced that a new ESA50 form is to be introduced early in 2015. The Limited Capability for Work (ESA50) questionnaire has to be filled in by claimants as part of their Employment and Support ...

6. Time allowed for ESA50 questionnaire slashed

(News)

The government has slashed the amount of time available to complete an ESA50 questionnaire form, reducing it from 6 weeks to 4 weeks, starting with forms issued on 31 October. The move will make it harder ...

7. WCA50 form completion guide now online

(News)

Benefits and Work has now published a highly detailed guide to completing the WCA50 questionnaire. The WCA50 capability for work questionnaire replaced the UC50/ESA50 forms from 24 November 2025. The ...

8. WCA50 replaces UC50

(News)

The WCA50 capability for work questionnaire replaced the UC50/ESA50 form from 24 November 2025. Although the DWP announced the change some time ago, they did not provide advance copies of the new form ...

9. Labour DWP ministerial team

(News)

... assessment. Claimants should be able to choose whether to have a face-to-face, telephone or video assessment. The deadline for returning ESA50, UC50 and PIP2 forms should be extended to two months. ...

10. Fast-track Severe Disability Group criteria revealed, would you qualify?

(News)

... and will no longer be required to fill in complex forms, such as the PIP ‘How your disability affects you’ form or the ESA50/UC50. Testing the criteria The DWP are currently running two tests of the ...

11. Pay PIP claimants for late assessments, say MPs

(News)

... it. The deadline for returning ESA50, UC50 and PIP2 forms should be extended to two months. More weight should be given to evidence provided by carers and family members in relation to benefits claims. ...

12. Preparing for your UC assessment

(UC)

... a face-to-face assessment Caution! Travelling to an assessment Having someone with you If you have not completed a recent ESA50 or UC50 questionnaire Questions you are likely to be asked at your ...

13. Feedback

(About)

... great news “sent my esa50 renewal back about 14 weeks ago and just got decision letter still in support group without a medical. used the guides and sent supporting letters and brilliant outcome”  ...

14. What is the Universal Credit work capability assessment?

(UC FAQ)

... the ESA50 forms you may have completed for your claim.   You normally have four weeks to return the form to the Health Assessment Advisory Service (HAAS).  If it is not returned by this deadline, you ...

15. ESA assessments

(ESA)

...  Preparing for a face-to-face assessment Caution! Travelling to an assessment Having someone with you If you have not completed a recent ESA50 or UC50 questionnaire Questions you are likely to ...

16. ESA appeal mandatory reconsiderations

(ESA)

... if the reason you are no longer entitled to ESA is because either you failed to return your ESA50 or failed, without good cause, to attend a WCA medical. If you fail the WCA for any other reason you can ...

17. Work capability assessment

(ESA glossary)

... or by video call. Some people are placed in the work-related activity group or the support group without ever having a medical. Much will depend on the detail with which you fill out the WCA50/ESA50 ...

18. 23 September Update: DWP Searches For Thousands Of PIP Claimants Owed Up To £13,000

(News)

... and you will be paid ESA again once you have done so. But beware, the DWP insist that if you have failed the WCA because you didn’t return your ESA50 or didn’t attend a WCA assessment you still have ...

19. 29 January 2020 Update: Are Bogus Observations Stopping PIP Awards, No More Claimants To Be Contacted About ESA Underpayments

(News)

... “sent my esa50 renewal back about 14 weeks ago and just got decision letter still in support group without a medical. used the guides and sent supporting letters and brilliant outcome” BOOST YOUR PIP ...

20. 15 January 2020 Update: Almost Half Of DLA To PIP Claimants Benefit Stopped Or Reduced, Fewer Than One Third Of New PIP Claims Succeed

(News)

... in a tad more doable.” Great news “sent my esa50 renewal back about 14 weeks ago and just got decision letter still in support group without a medical. used the guides and sent supporting letters and ...

21. 16 October 2019 Update: DWP Building 100 Benefits Robots, Con Artists Free To Prey On Claimants, Do You Want A Guide To Complaints?

(News)

... PIP Standard for both Care and Mobility. The ESA Letter arrived three weeks to the day I posted the esa50 form back, which by any reckoning is lightening speed. PIP has taken four months. We were one pesky ...

22. 17 July 2019 update: PIP Light Touch Review Extended; Disabled Claimants Benefits Cut By £1,200; PIP Training Discount

(News)

... told I would have the New Style ESA, I waited until March of this year to be sent my ESA50 form…I sent my form in, after reading everything you had to offer on ESA. I put in as much detail as I could, ...

23. 3 July 2019 Update: Where PIP Home Assessments Are 3 Times More Likely; New GP Fit Note Letter; PIP Underpayments Reach Record High

(News)

... I wasn't the only one going through this ghastly process. I just wish everyone could get what they deserve and are entitled to.” ESA50 success “Hi, I am posting to say a huge THANK YOU!! I was asked ...

24. 19 June 2019 Update: Blue Badge For Hidden Disabilities; Fall In PIP Claim Success, Rise In PIP And ESA Appeal Success

(News)

... on him. Your guides were invaluable when completing the ESA50 form and preparing for the assessment. They helped me in supporting him by providing the relevant focus in explaining and writing about his ...

25. 5 June 2019 Update: Almost-Pensioner PIP Claimants To Get 10 Year Awards, UC Claimants Risk Losing Out When Helped By Citizens Advice

(News)

... family member has been placed in support group with no F2F. It has taken 8 weeks from sending back ESA50 to receiving the decision letter (ESA72SC). The decision letter states “we won’t ask you to go for ...

26. 27 March 2019 Update: DWP's Foul Insult To PIP Claimant, ESA Support Group Entry Rises, PIP and ESA Wins At Record Hig

(News)

... from Lifetime DLA to PIP and awarded the same as I had Standard care and Enhanced Mobility. I found myself needing to complete the ESA50 form. I used the ESA guide, it is large but then again so is the ...

27. 27 February 2019 update: Is This The Value Of A Claimant’s Life? Plus DWP Plans To ‘Slurp’ Claimants Medical Records

(News)

... included the request in her ESA50 sent to Maximus. But neither agency acted on her request. When Whiting failed to attend her assessment, the DWP did not follow its own procedures and try to telephone ...

28. DWP ordered to pay £10,000 compensation following claimant’s suicide

(News)

... the DWP for a home visit for her assessment because she had suicidal thoughts and rarely left her home. She also included the request in her ESA50 sent to Maximus. But neither agency acted on her request ...

29. 15 January 2019 Update: DLA to PIP transfers, some claimants to get a year’s reprieve

(News)

... moved home to a full UC area and had to make an online claim for that. My husband was previously in the ESA support group. An ESA50 form then arrived in the post which I filled out for him using the Benefits ...

30. 14 November 2018 Update: ESA To UC Forced Migration Rules Announced, Mind Hits Back At McVey, MPs Condemn ‘Pointlessly Cruel’ Sanctions Against Disabled Claimants

(News)

... work.” ESA review success “I was sent an ESA50 form to fill in 20th July; returned it 2nd August; had an assessment on 3rd October; and received my result today, two weeks later - staying in the support ...

31. 3 October 2018 Update: DWP Pay Citizens Advice £51 Million To Help With Universal Credit Plus Maximus Make ‘Jaw-Dropping’ Profits From ESA

(News)

... rate for both Daily Living and Mobility. This is an amazing relief for which I cannot begin to thank you all enough!!” Brown envelope arrived “Sent my Esa50 back in Feb for march deadline.I used the ...

32. 23 May 2018 Update: PIP Bonus ‘Incentive To Ride Roughshod Over Claimants’ Plus Sanctions Yellow Card Ditched

(News)

... examination last year, and had been awarded it again, I wouldn't have had anything at all to live on over the next 6 weeks… Anyway, I filled in the ESA50 form sent to me… I managed to get the form completed ...

33. 9 May 2018 update: Scandal Of Positive PIP Feedback Plus DWP Deliberately Inflicting Hardship On ESA Appeals Claimants

(News)

... PIP decision letter). Anyway thank you so much to B&W for all the invaluable information without which I would not have been successful with ESA50 and PIP” DLA to PIP transfer “Many thanks to Benefits ...

34. 18 October 2017 Update: Secret PIP Recording Tribunal Win, When Will Your Area Switch to UC?, Many Mental Health Claimants Not Exempt From Repeat Medicals

(News)

... two weeks later confirming that I'd got enhanced care and mobility. Better results than I thought. Reviewed in 10 years.” ESA ‘success’ “After a gruelling 6 month wait after submitting an ESA50, during ...

35. 4 October 2017 Update: No More Repeat ESA Assessments - Who Will Benefit? Plus, A Good Time To Move North

(News)

... help, I won my pip upper tribunal ESA renewal good news “Just a quick note to say that after 4 years of hearing nothing from DWP about my ESA reassessment (was in the support group) I was sent an ESA50 ...

36. 6 September 2017 Update: DWP Loses Fight To Stop Claimants Appealing But Tries To Cover Up Possible Differences Between Atos and Capita PIP Assessments

(News)

... Following your guidance on filling ESA50. Then my gp being sent a 113 form. I have been placed in the support group. I feel so relieved and as if a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I cannot ...

37. 12 April 2017 Update

(News)

... WCA in seven years, I was put in the ESA support group in April 2016. 2 weeks ago I had to fill in and return another ESA50, less than a year after the last one! Surely there's something going on - Are ...

38. 7 December 2016 Update: Major PIP Mobility Improvements On The Way, Minister Claims Plus Compulsory Treatment Threat Dropped

(News)

... B&W for all of the help that you have been in receiving the benefit which I already knew that I should receive.” Double success “Some months ago my adult disabled daughter received the ESA50 questionnaire. ...

39. 9 November 2016 update: Claimants Rights Systematically Violated Says UN, Plus Support Group Under Attack

(News)

... – thank you “Just want to says thanks. I applied for ESA and completed the ESA50 with your guide to hand. On Saturday, I had a letter from DWP telling me I have been placed in the Support Group. Best ...

40. 26 October 2016 update: PIP and ESA Appeal Winners Face Further Legal Threat Plus DWP Protect Their Own

(News)

...  i didn't know about this wonderful site at the time i completed my esa50 form, i honestly believe that had i known and used the guides to fill my esa50 form i would have been spared all this hassle. the ...

41. 14 September 2016 update

(News)

... to always ask for further medical evidence (FME) “Where there is evidence of a previous suicide attempt, suicidal ideation or self-harm expressed in the ESA50 . . .”. In an email sent out by Maximus, ...

42. DWP panic and cover-up after claimant death publicity, WCA medics warned ‘We cannot defend you’

(News)

... it states: “Where there is evidence of a previous suicide attempt, suicidal ideation or self-harm expressed in the ESA50/ESA50A, the HCP must request FME.” The 2nd October 2015 was the week after press ...

43. 27 July update

(News)

... detailed help.” Support Group – no medical “Dear Mods, Advisors and generally wonderful people at B&W. It was with trepidation that I sent off my ESA50 for reassessment, completed exactly as advised ...

44. 29 July Update

(News)

... after having returned my (reassessment) ESA50, they've kept me in the support group and should not be due another reassessment for 2 years. I can't tell you how relieved I am not to have that hanging over ...

45. 1 June 2016 update

(News)

... in the ESA50/ESA50A, the HCP [healthcare professional] must request FME [further medical evidence].” We don’t think this is a good enough response and we don’t believe that all trace of, and reference ...

46. DWP still trying to cover up ignoring pledge to coroner

(News)

... or self-harm expressed in the ESA50/ESA50A, the HCP must request FME.” The DWP’s response to the coroner is not dated, but it should have been sent by 11 March 2014. Clearly a memo sent out in October ...

47. Why claimants died - the 49 peer reviews

(News)

... to identify vulnerable claimants. In case 1 the reviewer points out that the ESA50 is not read by DWP staff until after Atos issue a report, so staff don’t even consider if a claimant should be treated ...

48. 4 May 2016 update

(News)

... the decision maker has placed me in the support group again based on my ESA50 alone without the need for a F2F assessment. This is now the second time I have been kept in the support group without a F2F, ...

49. 20 April 2016 update

(News)

... of last week. As a subscriber I used the guide provided. so first off thanks for this guide was invaluable, really was.. recommend it to anyone filling in that terrible form ESA50” ESA Support Group ...

50. 6 April 2016 update

(News)

... Group success “Thanks so much for your ESA guides - they really are essential and the advice offered so detailed. Just three weeks after submitting his ESA50 form (and without having to undergo a face-to-face), ...