Written Question·Department for Work and Pensions·UIN 80360

Work Capability Assessment

Tabled: 10 October 2025
Answered: 20 October 2025

Question

Dr Scott Arthur

LabourEdinburgh South West

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many existing claimants are awaiting a Work Capability Assessment; what the average wait time is; and when he expects the backlog to be cleared.

Answer

Sir Stephen Timms
During the second half of 2024, DWP experienced a much higher level of demand for new Work Capability Assessments (WCA) than envisaged. As a result, 35,000 reassessments built up from individuals reporting a change in their condition before May 2025. We h...

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