Universal Credit: Work Capability Assessment
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether eligible Claimants that have existing applications for the LCWRA element of Universal Credit and are currently waiting for their Work Capability Assessment (WCA) will upon completion receive (a) the current rate of payment or (b) the rate of payment in place when their WCA is completed.
Answered by Sir Stephen Timms
The Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance (Rates of Allowances) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 were laid in Parliament on 09 February 2026. The Regulations provide further detail on the application of the Universal Credit Act 2025 including the definition of a pre-6 April 2026 Claimant confirming that claimants who declare a health condition or disability on or before 5 April 2026 and are found to have limited capability for work and work-related activity (LCWRA) will receive the higher rate of LCWRA. This applies even if their decision on entitlement is made on or after 6 April 2026.
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