The WCA50 capability for work questionnaire replaced the UC50/ESA50 form from 24 November 2025.
Although the DWP announced the change some time ago, they did not provide advance copies of the new form to allow guidance to be updated. However, the changes appear to be mainly in the order of the questions with some changes to wording.
The activities are now listed in the following order:
- Eating and drinking
- Moving around and using steps
- Standing and sitting
- Reaching
- Picking up and moving
- Manual dexterity
- Communicating – speaking, writing and typing
- Communicating – hearing and reading
- Getting around safely
- Controlling your bowels and bladder
- Staying conscious when awake
- Learning how to do tasks
- Awareness of hazards and danger
- Starting and finishing tasks
- Coping with changes
- Going out
- Coping with social situations
- Behaving appropriately
If you were sent an old version of the form, you can still complete and return it, you do not need to use the new form.
The new WCA50 can be downloaded and filled in by hand or saved and completed on a desktop or laptop computer. The DWP warn that it cannot be completed using a mobile phone or a tablet.
Benefits and Work will be providing a guide to completing the new form as soon as possible. In the meantime, you can download a copy of the WCA50 from this page.
