REASSESSMENTS ON UNIVERSAL CREDIT

Hello @axab43

I've also just migrated to UC LCWRA from ESA Support group too. I have been wondering the same thing.

You probably know that the Spring Statement in March 2025 published an accompanying policy document where they costed restarting WCAs from April 2026.

See the link at page 11, headed 'Work Capability Assessment: Restart reassessments from April 2026' -
SS25_Published_Costing_Document.pdf

It reads:

"These reassessments will affect those who were eligible under the ‘substantial risk’ criteria, and those with conditions with a short-term prognosis who may have recovered. This will ensure those whose condition may have changed are receiving appropriate support and helped back into work. The measure will be effective from April 2026."

So, I will be one of those claims they will be targeting first because my ESA Support group claim (now migrated to UC LCWRA) was awarded on the basis of 'substantial risk'.

Just before migrating, I phoned ESA and asked when my next review date was and they told me it would be at the end of this summer, i.e. that is what was on their system. It has been deferred twice since 2021 because of Covid. I have to assume that as well as migrating over the details of when my last WCA decision was, ESA will have migrated over that it was awarded under 'substantial risk' and, given that the date on their system for my next WCA reassessment has not yet passed, they will migrate over the date that it is now due.

What I do know is that unless you were awarded under those initially targeted reassessments they intend to carry out (pregnancy risk, cancer short term award and 'substantial risk'), then the prognosis they have on their system for your next review date is meaningless. They've essentially been switched off. They will not be able to get to them until they build up capacity with the assessment providers to reassess them before they intend to abolish the WCA in 2028. Of course, it goes without saying that UC LCWRA is open ended and lasts until your next decision, anyway.

In spite of what is in the Spring Statement as a policy pledge about not restarting WCA reassessments before April 2026, I can't help worrying about it because it is possible (though, not probable) that I might expect a note on my journal imminently that they are sending out a UC50 because my claim is in a targeted category and is timetabled for review soon. The only way to know for sure is to leave a note on my journal or phone the UC helpline to ask when I am next going to be reassessed, which I might risk doing to quell my increasing anxiety. There is always the danger, though, that the act of communicating with them might invite them to see the system says that I am now due and they manually initiate a referral for WCA, which I want to avoid. It is agony not knowing for sure.

On another thread the other day, @Passerby told me that since last year they have been doing some ESA Support Group/UC LCWRA reassessments but for those claims awarded during the Covid restrictions who were assessed by telephony because they couldn't be assessed face-to-face.

Anyway, @axab43, unless your claim was in one of the targeted categories or was awarded on the basis of a telephone assessment during Covid restrictions, then I wouldn't worry that you can expect to be reassessed before April 2026. And, even then, not for a very, very long time after, if at all before the WCA is abolished in 2028 (provided it's passed through Parliament first).

That's as much as I know.

You're very welcome @axab43

Glad it might help to reassure you. I've also read a comment somewhere very recently (cant find the link) that work coaches have internal guidance not to refer UC LCWRA for planned award reviews for WCA because the assessment providers have their hands full dealing with new claims and UC LCW change of circumstances (deterioration). If that changes, I'm sure we'll see more people posting on the forums about it.

Otherwise, since your claim is not in any initially targeted category and reassessments are unlikely to resume before next April (as the Spring Statement policy document I shared pledges), it will be a long while yet before you get a note on your journal to say they're sending out a UC50. I know it's hard not to worry but it doesn't sound like they'll come for you any time soon, or maybe ever, if the government manages to get it passed into law to abolish the WCA in 2028.

And, thank you for your advice about not contacting my work coach. As UC LCWRA, we don't actually have an assigned work coach because we have no work search or work related activity requirements. Anyway, I've decided it's best not to leave a note on my journal to find out if my scheduled review is going ahead this summer. I don't want to risk triggering anything.

Take care.