UC, WCA & DWP

EmilyS3000
EmilyS3000 Online Community Member Posts: 1 Listener
in Universal Credit (UC)

Hi all,

I'm hoping you can help, posting on behalf of a friend who is unable to post themselves.

My friend was switched over from tax credits to UC in September 2025 (single parent, 1 dependant age 12+, multiple health conditions including ASD, has worked mainly part-time for the past several years, in receipt of PIP - lower amonunt daily living only, is not able to work full time, does not receive any child maintenance, please ask any questions if further information needed)

As part of the switch to UC, they then had to attend meetings with work coach at jobcentre, where they were advised under UC rules they would be expected to be working full time/40hrs a week, and be actively looking for more work - unless a fit note could be provided etc.

Claimant has provided regular fit notes while awaiting UC50 & WCA etc.

The WCA was funally carried out - via telephone interview - in mid-June. Today there was a message in journal & phonecall from DWP, as follows:- "Following the Work Capability Assessment on xx/xx/xxxx I have now received your medical report, and I would like to talk with you to confirm the information we hold on your Health Condition. I will ring you between (xx-xx), (today). Your phone may show the call as an 0800 or withheld number. If this call time is inconvenient or you would like me to call you on a different number, please leave a message on your journal. Please make every effort to be available for the call as I would like your input prior to making a decision on your capability for work. If you do not want to continue with the health journey because you no longer have a health condition that affects your ability to work, or you have returned to work please report the change to your health on your account.

Speak soon (their name)"

Following the phone call, where it was "explained" to the claimant that theirs fell under the "complex decision maker" team at the DWP.

The DWP wished to confirm whether claimant had done "any work" since submitting fit notes, or if they had been off sick during this time. Claimant answered honestly & explained they had done some work during that time, with an employer who was understanding of their health conditions/disability and they did not earn enough to be eligible for SSP - as they only work 7-8hrs per week - and are not currently able to work more than that.

Following the phone call, there has been a new journal message, as follows:- "Thank you for taking my call this morning, due to the information we discussed I have decided to refer you for a new work capability assessment. A new questionnaire will be sent to you shortly.

Regards (their name)"

As I'm sure you can imagine, this entire process has been incredibly stressful for my friend/the claimant and their question is as follows:-

It seems as though the dwp are taking an extremely binary view of the capability to work - I thought the whole "health journey" thing was designed to see whether you had limited capability for work/lcwra - not 0/none/no capability for work?!? As per advice of work coach, who initiated the "health journey"(?) Thingy, it was either submit fit notes & have a WCA or find full-time work. As unable to work full-time, chose to do the WCA route?"

We are now under the impression that "admitting" to being able to work part-time - albeit less than 9hrs per week (while being ineligible for SSP etc) that the dwp will now consider them to be "fit for work" or whatever the opposite of lcw/lcwra is, and this entire process has just been a stressful and pointless waste of time? And will now be expected to find more/full-time work anyway?

We are hoping if anyone may be able to offer any insight or guidance or any support around this, it would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

Wishing you all the best of health & mental/emotional stability.

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