Abolition of the Work Capability Assessment

The WCA is to be scrapped in 2028 and a new single assessment system introduced.  

Under the new system, any extra financial support for health conditions (including PIP, ESA or UC health) will be assessed via a single assessment which will be based on the PIP assessment – considering the impact of disability on daily living, not on capacity to work.

According to the Green Paper, only 63% of people currently receiving the health element of UC or ESA are also in receipt of PIP or DLA.

Reassessments for UC and ESA will be resumed until the WCA is scrapped, with exceptions for those who will never work and those under special rules for end-of-life care. Reassessments have largely been switched off since 2021.

A "Right To Try Guarantee" will be introduced, which will guarantee that attempting work will never lead to a benefits reassessment.