The DWP published the latest statistics for universal credit (UC) and employment and support allowance (ESA) work capability assessments (WCA) this month. The figures show an increases of 300,000 in the number of claimants receiving UC health in the last year, with seven out of ten UC health claimants being found to have limited capability for work-related activity (LCWRA). For ESA claimants, two thirds of all initial WCAs resulted in the claimant being placed in the support group.
UC statistics
At June 2024, the number of people receiving UC health had risen to 2.1 million, up from 1.8 million a year earlier. This is an increase of 2%, up to 31% of all people claiming UC.
71% of all UC health claimants were assessed as having limited capability for work and work-related activity (LCWRA).
In the 5 years to May 2024, 2.7 million WCA decisions have been made. 15% found that the claimant had no limited capability for work, 19% limited capability for work (LCW), and 66% limited capability for work and work-related activity (LCWRA).
The DWP claim that of all WCA decisions in the period January 2022 to May 2024, at least 69% are recorded as having mental and behavioural disorders. However, they add that this may not be their primary medical condition, raising a question mark over the value of this statistic and the reason for highlighting it..
The proportion recorded as having mental and behavioural disorders is lower (53%) for claimants found capable for work, and higher for claimants found to have limited capability for work (90%)
47% are recorded with diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue. This proportion is higher (58%) for claimants found capable of work.
In the quarter to May 2024, 17% of UC WCA decisions were repeat decisions and 83% were Initial UC WCA decisions.
For initial decisions in the quarter to May 2024, 66% were LCWRA and 17% LCW.
Of the repeat decisions, 76% were LCWRA and 24% were LCW.
ESA statistics
For ESA initial decisions, in the quarter to March 2024:
- 66% of outcomes were for the Support Group, down from 68% in quarter ending December 2023
- 14% of outcomes were for the Work Related Activity Group, similar to last quarter ending December 2023
- 20% of outcomes were found Fit for Work, up from 18% in quarter ending December 2023
For repeat WCA decisions:
- 81% of outcomes were for the Support Group, down from 88% in quarter ending December 2023
- 16% of outcomes were for the Work Related Activity Group, up from 9% in quarter ending December 2023
- 3% of outcomes were found Fit for Work, similar to last quarter ending December 2023
in the latest quarter to March 2024, there were 38,000 completed ESA WCAs with a DWP decision, a 4% increase from the previous quarter to December 2023
Of the total number of ESA WCAs completed in the quarter to March 2024, 58% were initial WCAs (22,000) and 42% were repeats (16,000)
You can read the full UC WCA statistics here.
