Universal Credit Limited Capability for Work

If you have limited capability for work due to a health condition or disability, your Universal Credit award may include an additional amount and you will have different requirements or conditionality compared to those without a health condition or disability.

There are two different groups determined by your capability for work, the Limited Capability for Work (LCW) group and the Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity (LCWRA) group.

In most cases your capability for work will be assessed with a Work Capability Assessment before deciding which group you should be in.

You can find out more about the different groups and the assessment process below.

Limited Capability for Work (LCW)

You may be in the limited capability for work 'LCW' group if you are thought to be capable, with support, of preparing for work at some point in the future.

Before 3rd April 2017 this would mean different conditionality to those expected to actively seek work, you will receive a work allowance so you/your partner can earn more before having your benefit reduced, and an extra amount associated with being in the LCW group called the LCW element.

New Universal Credit claims from 3rd April 2017 onwards, and existing Universal Credit claimants whose circumstances change after 3rd April 2017 so they are newly placed in the LCW group, are not awarded the extra amount called the LCW element as it was abolished. You will still be eligible for the work allowance and your work-related requirements will take account of this; you just won't get the increase in your award.

This change doesn't affect:

• existing Universal Credit claimants with LCW before 3rd April 2017
• existing Universal Credit claimants with LCW before 3rd April 2017, who have a further Work Capability Assessment (re-assessment) after 3rd April 2017 and are placed into the LCW group, even if they move from the LCWRA group
• claimants in the LCWRA group, who will continue to get the LCWRA element
• claimants of Employment and Support Allowance before 3rd April 2017 who are receiving the WRAG component and are later moved over to Universal Credit
• LCW claims made on or after 3rd April 2017 which were backdated to a date before 3rd April 2017
• mandatory reconsideration and appeal decisions for LCW claims that were made before 3rd April 2017

Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity (LCWRA)

You may be placed in the limited capability for work- and work-related activity 'LCWRA' group if your condition is such that you are not thought capable of preparing for work.

This means you will not be expected to take part in any work-related activities, you will receive a work allowance so you/your partner can earn more before your benefit is reduced, and an extra amount associated with being in the LCWRA group called the LCWRA element.

Couples with limited capability for work

If you are in a couple, and both of you are thought to have limited capability for work, you may be put in different groups, but your Universal Credit award can only include one element, or additional amount.

If one or both of you are in the LCWRA group and therefore qualify for the higher LCWRA element, this will be the one that is included, otherwise the lower LCW element will be included - as long as you or your partner qualify for the extra amount (see the LCW section above).

Work Capability Assessment

In most cases you will be asked to attend a Work Capability Assessment to determine whether your health condition or disability affects your ability to work and if so, which element is appropriate for your award.

The assessment looks at whether you are able to perform certain activities - covering both physical and mental health - and awards points for the activities you are not able to do or struggle with due to your health condition or disability. A total of 15 points across the assessment means you have limited capability for work.
In some circumstances you can be treated as having limited capability for work in Universal Credit without having to go through the work capability assessment, for example if you are terminally ill, are on certain treatment programs or are over state pension age and in receipt of a disability benefit.

Moving on to Universal Credit from Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

If you move on to Universal Credit from Employment and Support Allowance and have already been assessed as having limited capability for work, you will not have to undertake the assessment again.

If you were in the ESA work related activity group (WRAG) you will be put in the Universal Credit LCW group. If you were receiving the extra WRAG amount in ESA you will get the extra LCW amount in Universal Credit.

If you were in the ESA support group, you will be put in the Universal Credit LCWRA group and awarded the Universal Credit LCWRA element.

Earnings and the work capability assessment

If your capability for work has not yet been assessed

The work capability assessment which determines your entitlement to a limited capability for work element will not be carried out, therefore you will not receive a LCW or LCWRA element, if your earnings are equal to or above a set threshold. This threshold is the amount you would earn if working 16 hours at the national minimum/living wage.

The exceptions to this are if you are receiving Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment, or can be treated as having limited capability for work in Universal Credit without having to go through the work capability assessment. In these cases, the earnings threshold does not apply.

If your capability for work has already been assessed

If you have already been assessed as having limited capability for work (either for Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance) and therefore already have a LCW or LCWRA element included in your award, this will not be affected by your earnings going above the threshold.

Waiting period