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"Executive summary 

1. The Work Capability Assessment (WCA) was introduced in October 2008, as 

part of Employment and Support Allowance, and is used to determine 

entitlement. The December 2008 White Paper, ‘Raising Expectations’ 

announced that there would be a department-led review of the WCA and this 

report sets out it’s method, findings and recommendations.     

2. The purpose of the review was to establish whether the WCA is achieving its 

aim of correctly identifying an individual’s capability for work.  Furthermore it 

was tasked with consideration of both the appropriateness of the content of 

the assessment, and how it can be amended to better account for an 

individual’s adaptation to their condition, enabling a more accurate reflection of 

their functional capability and ability for work. 

3. The review engaged with medical experts, stakeholders and employers in 

expert case analysis and group descriptor analysis.   

4. Analysis of cases established that the current WCA is accurately identifying 

individuals’ capability for work.  There was consensus that, in the cases 

reviewed, advice had been given in line with an individual’s functionality and 

on the whole the assessment accurately identifies individuals for the most 

appropriate benefit. 

5. However, the working group did identify areas where the assessment could be 

amended to better account for adaptation. Some descriptors focus on 

impairment and do not acknowledge the effects adaptations can have in 

improving an individual’s function.  

6. The working group also recognised that by simplifying the descriptors both the 

ease with which the assessment can be administered and the transparency of 

the process for claimants could be improved. This was achieved by identifying 

unnecessary complexities and overlaps. 

7. The recommendations amend the assessment to be more inclusive towards 

adaptation, and to ensure transparency through clarification and simplification. "