Politics · United Kingdom · 11 hrs ago
Universal Credit reassessments have an average wait of 272 working days
The DWP says Universal Credit reassessments take 272 working days on average as of October 1, 2026.
The wait applies to existing claimants in the UK who are waiting for a Work Capability Assessment reassessment.
These assessments help decide how a person’s health condition or disability affects their ability to work and their benefit entitlement.
The DWP says it gives priority to initial assessments for new claims, which can leave existing claimants waiting longer.
Claimants keep receiving their existing benefit rate while they wait; if a reassessment means they qualify for more, the increase is backdated to when they became entitled to it.
The department says it is recruiting and training more healthcare professionals and improving workforce planning to increase assessment capacity.
It says it will continue monitoring demand and capacity as it works to reduce waiting times.
The average wait for existing Universal Credit claimants awaiting a Work Capability Assessment reassessment was 272 working days as of October 1, 2026.
The Department for Work and Pensions said it prioritises initial assessments because demand for them has risen.
Claimants awaiting reassessment continue to receive their existing rate of benefit.
If a reassessment leads to a higher benefit entitlement, the increase is backdated to when entitlement arose.
The department said it is recruiting and training more healthcare professionals and improving workforce planning to increase assessment capacity.
- Who
- Existing Universal Credit claimants awaiting a Work Capability Assessment reassessment.
- What
- Their average wait was 272 working days.
- When
- As of October 1, 2026.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- The department said demand for initial assessments has risen and these are prioritised.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Lisa Smart asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions about average reassessment waits and steps to reduce them.
The average wait for a Work Capability Assessment reassessment was 272 working days.
Sir Stephen Timms responded that the department prioritises initial assessments and is taking steps to increase assessment capacity.
- Average reassessment wait
- 272 working days
- Wait data date
- October 1, 2026
- Claimants' benefit while waiting
- Existing rate continues
- Backdated increase
- From the date entitlement arose
- Reassessment information
- Unpublished management information produced by assessment suppliers
What people are saying
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average waiting time is for existing claimants awaiting a work capability reassessment; and what steps he is taking to reduce that time.
Demand for initial Work Capability Assessment (WCA) assessments has risen, so we continue to prioritise initial claims.
As of October 1, 2026, the average waiting time for a WCA reassessment was 272 working days.