From 26 April 2026, the severe conditions criteria (SCC) affect how much universal credit (UC) disabled claimants receive.
Claimants who are found to have limited capability for work-related activity (LCWRA) and who also meet the SCC get the full rate of the LCWRA element: £429.80 per month. This is the same rate as claimants who were found to have LCWRA before 26 April receive.
Claimants who are found to have LCWRA but do not meet the SCC get a reduced LCWRA element of £217.26 per month, approximately half of the higher rate.
To meet the SCC, you must first be found to meet one of the functional LCWRA descriptors. People who are found to have LCWRA for non-functional reasons, such as being at substantial risk do not qualify for SCC.
We have listed the 16 functional descriptors at the bottom of this page.
In addition, to meet the SCC you must show that you will always meet the one of the LCWRA functional descriptors for the rest of your life.
The DWP are refusing to release current training and guidance documents on how health assessors will decide if this is the case, but documents previously set out the tests that claimants are likely to need to pass.
Step one: show one of the functional descriptors applies
One of the 16 functional LCWRA descriptors above must apply to you. The non-functional descriptors, such as substantial risk, do not count for SCC.
Step two: show the descriptor applies constantly
The DWP seem to consider that “constantly” in this context means that you would always be found to have LCWRA, rather than that the descriptor would apply every single time, though there is a real lack of clarity around this, at present.
Step three: show the descriptor will apply for the rest of your life
If there is an existing cure, such as a transplant or joint replacement, which you may be able to have in the future, then your condition will probably not be regarded as lifelong.
Step four: show there is an NHS record of the diagnosis
Even if you were diagnosed privately, as long as this now appears in your NHS records, it should be accepted by the DWP.
We go into all these steps in more detail plus sample answers and SCC case studies in our Guide to the WCA in the members area.
LCWRA functional descriptors
[Descriptors 1-8 relate to physical conditions]
1. Mobilising unaided by another person with or without a walking stick, manual wheelchair or other aid if such aid is normally, or could reasonably be, worn or used.
Cannot either:
(i) mobilise more than 50 metres on level ground without stopping in order to avoid significant discomfort or exhaustion
or
(ii) repeatedly mobilise 50 metres within a reasonable timescale because of significant discomfort or exhaustion.
2. Transferring from one seated position to another.
Cannot move between one seated position and another seated position located next to one another without receiving physical assistance from another person.
3. Reaching.
Cannot raise either arm as if to put something in the top pocket of a coat or jacket.
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).
Cannot pick up and move a 0.5 litre carton full of liquid.
5. Manual dexterity.
Cannot press a button (such as a telephone keypad) with either hand or cannot turn the pages of a book with either hand.
6. Making self understood through speaking, writing, typing, or other means which are normally, or could reasonably be, used, unaided by another person.
Cannot convey a simple message, such as the presence of a hazard.
7. Understanding communication by—
(i) verbal means (such as hearing or lip reading) alone,
(ii) non-verbal means (such as reading 16-point print or Braille) alone, or
(iii) a combination of (i) and (ii),
using any aid that is normally, or could reasonably be, used, unaided by another person.
Cannot understand a simple message, such as the location of a fire escape, due to sensory impairment.
8. Absence or loss of control whilst conscious leading to extensive evacuation of the bowel and/or voiding of the bladder, other than enuresis (bed-wetting), despite the wearing or use of any aids or adaptations which are normally, or could reasonably be, worn or used.
At least once a week 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.
[Descriptors 9-14 relate to mental health and learning difficulties]
9. Learning tasks.
Cannot learn how to complete a simple task, such as setting an alarm clock, due to cognitive impairment or mental disorder.
10. Awareness of everyday hazards (such as boiling water or sharp objects).
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.
11. Initiating and completing personal action (which means planning, organisation, problem solving, prioritising or switching tasks).
Cannot, due to impaired mental function, reliably initiate or complete at least two sequential personal actions.
12. Coping with change.
Cannot cope with any change, due to cognitive impairment or mental disorder, to the extent that day to day life cannot be managed.
13. Coping with social engagement due to cognitive impairment or mental disorder.
Engagement in social contact is always precluded due to difficulty relating to others or significant distress experienced by the claimant.
14. Appropriateness of behaviour with other people, due to cognitive impairment or mental disorder.
Has, on a daily basis, uncontrollable episodes of aggressive or disinhibited behaviour that would be unreasonable in any workplace.
[These final two activities below have descriptors that relate to both physical and mental health/learning difficulties.]
15. Conveying food or drink to the mouth.
(a) Cannot convey food or drink to the claimant’s own mouth without receiving physical assistance from someone else; or
(b) Cannot convey food or drink to the claimant’s own mouth without repeatedly stopping, experiencing breathlessness or severe discomfort; or
(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.
16. Chewing or swallowing food or drink.
(a) Cannot chew or swallow food or drink; or
(b) Cannot chew or swallow food or drink without repeatedly stopping, experiencing breathlessness or severe discomfort; or
(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.
