The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that the average waiting time for a Universal Credit work capability reassessment is 272 working days. The figure, which applies as of October 1, 2026, was disclosed in a parliamentary response.
Parliamentary Question on Reassessment Delays
Liberal Democrat MP for Hazel Grove, Lisa Smart, raised the issue in Parliament, asking 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 are being taken to reduce that time.
Sir Stephen Timms, Minister of State in the DWP and Minister of State (Minister for Equalities) in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, responded on Thursday. He said demand for initial Work Capability Assessment (WCA) assessments has risen, so the department continues to prioritise initial claims. This approach ensures claimants receive the right level of benefit and establishes capability for work at the outset of a claim.
Measures to Increase Assessment Capacity
The department is taking several steps to increase the capacity of the Health Assessment Advisory Service to deliver WCAs, including reassessments for existing Universal Credit claimants. These measures include recruiting and training additional healthcare professionals across all assessment suppliers, alongside improvements to workforce planning to better align available resources with demand.
The DWP continues to monitor assessment volumes closely and works with suppliers to ensure sufficient capacity is in place to reduce waiting times and support timely reassessment activity.
Impact on Claimants and Data Notes
Claimants awaiting reassessment continue to receive their existing rate of benefit in the meantime. Where a reassessment results in entitlement to a higher rate of benefit, any increase due will be backdated in line with the date entitlement arose.
Sir Stephen's response included an addendum clarifying that the data on average waiting times was drawn from unpublished management information compiled by assessment suppliers for internal departmental use and was not routinely released as official statistics. All figures were rounded to the nearest whole number.
