Work Capability Assessments Easy Read

Work Capability Assessments

A hand filling out a question in a Universal Credit application form which asks about how much time you can work for with your disability

When you apply for Universal Credit, you can say if you have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work.

A doctor is writing a letter at a desk talking to a patient. In front of them is an open envelope with an NHS letter in it which says Sick note

If you have a disability or a problem with your health that stops you from working for long, you will need to get a letter from a health professional about this.

The letter is called a fit note or a sick note.

A page from a survey with a hand holding a pen ticking an answer box

You will also need to fill in a form called a Capability for work questionnaire.

The form is also called a WCA50.

A friend puts her arm around a woman in a wheelchair whilst a man with a clipboard is writing something down

You might also have to have a Work Capability Assessment .

3 pictures. 1 is a woman talking to another woman on chairs. 1 is a woman talking on the phone to someone, 1 is a video call between two people - one is sitting at a desk

The Work Capability Assessment might take place face-to-face, by phone or by video.

A man is sitting next to a young woman who is being given test results by a doctor

If you want some help or support, you can have someone with you at the Work Capability Assessment like a family member, friend or support worker .

A woman is standing up, writing with a pen in a file and smiling

The person doing the assessment will ask you questions about how easy or difficult you find it to do things like:

standing
sitting
understanding information
communicating information

A poster with a red cross and a green tick underneath a picture a woman putting letters in envelopes for 60 minutes. A woman in a wheelchair next to the poster is pointing to the red cross

You should tell them how easy or difficult it would be for you do it for a long time.

A poster with a red cross and a green tick underneath a picture of a woman putting letters in envelopes with help from another person. A woman in a wheelchair next to the poster is pointing to the green tick

and if you would need any help to do it.

A group of 4 people who are holding tools for the jobs they do

The Work Capability Assessment is to help work out if you are able to work, or need to get ready to work in the future.

The front cover of a Universal Credit leaflet

It will also help to work out if you will be paid extra Universal Credit because of your disability or health condition. 