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Guidance

Work Capability Assessment handbook: for healthcare professionals

This guidance is for healthcare professionals who undertake Work Capability Assessments on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Updates to this page

From:
Department for Work and Pensions
Published:
19 March 2013
Last updated:
10 September 2026
Show all updates

  1. Updated both the Word and ODT versions of the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) handbook. The files were updated on 31 August 2026, but the front cover date was not updated at that time. This change updates the cover date to August 2026 only; no content has changed.

  2. Replaced Work Capability Assessment handbook files with most up to date versions.

  3. Updated the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) handbook (PDF and ODT).

  4. Updated WCA PDF and ODT versions of handbook (2023 version).

  5. Updated Work Capability Assessment (WCA) handbook (PDF and ODT).

  6. Published correct up to date version of the Work Capability Assessment handbook: for healthcare professionals - version 18.

  7. Updated WCA handbook. Changes are listed on page 3.

  8. Added updated versions of the Work Capability Assessment handbook. Changes are listed on pages 3 and 4.

  9. Added updated versions of the Work Capability Assessment handbook. Changes are listed on pages 3 and 4.

  10. Published revised version of the WCA handbook for healthcare professionals - PDF and ODT. The changes are listed on page 3.

  11. Published revised version of the WCA handbook for healthcare professionals - PDF and ODT. The changes are listed on pages 4 and 5.

  12. Published revised version of the WCA handbook for healthcare professionals - PDF and ODT. The changes are listed on pages 5 and 6.

  13. Published revised version of the handbook. The changes are listed on page 3.

  14. Published revised version of the handbook. The changes are listed on page 3.

  15. Published revised version. Main changes include: updated guidance on coping with social engagement activity; updated guidance on assessing substantial risk in claimants with a mental health condition; background information on work-related activity; aligning benefit terminology to that used in Universal Credit.

  16. Published revised version. Main changes include: guidelines on substantial risk in claimants with a mental health problem – new guidance on consideration of mobility problems when assessing incontinence – background information on Universal Credit – more information on assessment and consideration of people with visual problems – more guidance on mobilising distances within the home and supermarkets – updated guidance on Activity 5

  17. First published.

Documents

Work Capability Assessment (WCA) handbook

MS Word Document, 561 KB

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email accessible.formats@dwp.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Work Capability Assessment (WCA) handbook

ODT, 322 KB

This file is in an OpenDocument format

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email accessible.formats@dwp.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

This guidance is for healthcare professionals approved or appointed by the Department for Work and Pensions Chief Medical Adviser to undertake Work Capability Assessments on behalf of the department.

Work Capability Assessments are carried out in connection with claims for Employment and Support Allowance.

This handbook is only a part of the training that a healthcare professional receives. Disability assessment is a practical occupation and much of the guidance involves verbal information and coaching.

Some of the information may not be readily understood without background medical knowledge and an awareness of the other training that healthcare professionals receive.

Why we publish this guide

We publish this guide to help people understand how we make decisions.

Information for claimants

Read about how to claim Employment and Support Allowance.

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