← Back to Westminster Hall Debates
Work Capability Assessment Timescales
04 March 2026
Lead MP
Wendy Chamberlain
North East Fife
Lib Dem
Responding Minister
Stephen Timms
Tags
Benefits & Welfare
Word Count: 4249
Other Contributors: 2
At a Glance
Wendy Chamberlain raised concerns about work capability assessment timescales in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
Chamberlain asked the Minister to explain the prioritisation of new work capability assessments over those with notified changes in condition, the origins of the backlog, and the criteria for expediting reassessments. She also inquired about the instructions given to Maximus to prioritise new applications over reassessments, and the measures being taken to ensure correct and timely decisions. The hon. Member for North East Fife asked the government to prioritise face-to-face assessments and to continue clearing the backlog of claimant-led reassessments as quickly as possible.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Wendy Chamberlain highlighted a backlog of 35,000 reassessments waiting to be seen, expressing concern over the impact on constituents' mental and physical health. She noted that delays of 18 months or more are common, exacerbating existing vulnerabilities such as serious abuse, severe anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and physical pain. She also pointed out that the Department for Work and Pensions lacks a breakdown of the backlog, hindering targeted capacity addition. The hon. Member for North East Fife is concerned about the efficiency and supportiveness of the work capability assessment (WCA) process, particularly for claimant-led reassessments. She highlighted the backlog of 35,000 claimant-led reassessments that built up from September 2024 until May 2025, and the importance of avoiding cutting corners which could lead to wrong decisions being made. She also stressed the need for face-to-face assessments and a trauma-informed approach to ensure accuracy and fairness.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Jim Shannon commended the hon. Lady for securing the debate and highlighted significant issues with reassessment waiting times in Northern Ireland. He noted that the mean average wait was around 290 working days and some individuals waited up to seven to eight years. Shannon stressed the need for more staff to address the backlog and alleviate the stress and anxiety felt by applicants.
Steve Darling
Lib Dem
Torbay
Steve Darling, a former caseworker, emphasised the need for a culture change in organisations involved in the Work Capability Assessment process. He advocated for a trauma-informed approach to support individuals undergoing these assessments and questioned whether such a cultural shift had been observed.
Government Response
Stephen Timms
Government Response
The Minister welcomed the opportunity to discuss journey times in the work capability assessment (WCA) and acknowledged the importance of assessing entitlement as quickly as possible. He outlined the government's plan to abolish the WCA and end the binary categorisation of people as 'can work' or 'cannot work'. The Minister stated that the latest median end-to-end journey time for new employment and support allowance (ESA) work capability assessments is 87 working days. He also addressed the backlog of 35,000 claimant-led reassessments and confirmed that most of this backlog would be cleared by the end of the month. Additionally, the Minister highlighted the importance of face-to-face assessments and the measures in place to maintain quality and accuracy. He also mentioned the government's commitment to a new safeguarding approach to prioritise vulnerable customers.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.