Universal credit if you’re sick or disabled

If you have a health condition or disability that makes it difficult for you to work, you might:

be able to get more universal credit
not be expected to look for work while you’re getting universal credit

Find out about the universal credit claims process if you’re sick and disabled, including filling in the work capability questionnaire and what happens at a work capability assessment.

Applying for universal credit if you’re sick or disabled

When you apply for universal credit, you’ll be asked if you have a health condition that affects your ability to work.

If you do, you’ll need to provide a fit/sick note and fill in a work capability questionnaire.

Filling in the work capability questionnaire

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will use your work capability questionnaire – sometimes referred to as UC50 – to decide whether you:

should get more universal credit
will have to look for work while getting universal credit
will have to prepare for work while getting universal credit

When filling in the questionnaire:

answer the questions with as much detail as possible
make sure you complete and return it within four weeks
ask for help filling it in if you need it – you could ask a friend, family member, support worker or Citizens Advice adviser
you’ll be asked for details of your GP and any other heathcare professionals you deal with – include the information of the person that knows you best so they can explain how your condition affects your ability to work
include supporting evidence if possible e.g. medical reports, medication lists, medical test results, a letter or report from your GP or other healthcare professional – don’t worry that the form says not to ask or pay for new information, anything that backs up what you’re saying will strengthen your claim and should be seen by DWP
if your doctor charges for letters and you can’t afford to pay, ask for copies of any recent medical notes or letters from any specialists you’ve seen – GPs generally have to provide these for free. You could also send a letter from a family member, partner or carer

Once DWP have your work capability questionnaire, you’ll normally need to have a work capability assessment so they can decide how much your illness or disability affects your ability to work.

What happens at a work capability assessment?

The assessment may take place face-to-face, by video call or over the phone. They’ll go through the questionnaire you filled in and look at how your physical and mental health affects your ability to carry out certain activities.

If DWP decide you’re able to prepare for work

Following your work capability assessment, DWP may decide you have limited capability for work (LCW).

This means you won’t be expected to look for work, but you might have to take steps to prepare for work e.g. writing a CV or undergoing training.

You don’t usually get extra universal credit if you fall into this category.

If DWP decide you’re unable to prepare for work

Alternatively, DWP may decide you have limited capability for work-related activity (LCWRA).

This means you won’t have to work or do anything to prepare for work. You’ll also usually get an extra £390.06 in universal credit each month.

illustration of woman with watering can watering brain

Who can get LCW or LCWRA automatically?

Some people will get LCW or LCWRA without filling in the work capability questionnaire or going to a work capability assessment.

You might get LCW or LCWRA automatically if:
you’re pregnant
you’re over state pension age
you’re in hospital or quarantine
you’re having or recovering from cancer treatment
you have a serious illness
you were getting employment and support allowance when you applied for universal credit

If you were getting a severe disability premium

If you’re being moved to universal credit from a benefit that included a severe disability premium (SDP), you might get a transitional payment in your universal credit. This tops up your universal credit payments so you’re not significantly worse off when you switch from another benefit.

The amount of money you’ll get will depend on your household’s situation when you claimed universal credit:

Situation on application	Transitional payment
Single with LCWRA	£132.12 a month
Single without LCWRA	£313.79 a month
Couple with one person entitled to SDP on previous benefit, with LCWRA in either partner’s name	£132.12 a month
Couple with one person entitled to SDP on previous benefit, without LCWRA in either partner’s name	£313.79 a month
Couple with both entitled to SDP on previous benefit	£445.91

These payments will gradually reduce over time as your universal credit allowance increases.

You will usually get transitional protection automatically so you shouldn’t have to apply for it.

FAQs

You’ll usually start getting the extra money three months after providing medical evidence. If it takes longer than three months to complete your work capability assessment, your payments will be backdated to this point.

You’ll have a review period after which you may be reassessed. Review periods are usually set between six and 36 months, depending on the nature of your health condition or disability. Not all cases will be automatically reassessed once this review period is up.

These are two completely separate benefits. Personal independence payment (PIP) is there to help you manage your disability or long-term health condition. LCWRA is an extra universal credit payment that you can get if you’re unable to work. It’s possible to be eligible for both at the same time.