Call for evidence outcome

Work Capability Assessment: Year 4 call for evidence

• From: Department for Work and Pensions
• Published: 1 July 2013
• Last updated: 10 July 2013 — See all updates

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

This call for evidence has closed

Detail of outcome

We published the fourth independent review of the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) on 12 December 2013. We published the government response on 27 March 2014.

The government welcomed Dr Litchfield’s review and his recommendations. As a result we will

• carry out a full impact assessment into the alternative approach to the decision making process as outlined by Dr Litchfield
• continue work already begun with the British Medical Association to develop a new ESA113 form for healthcare professionals to use for the collection of further medical evidence
• comprehensively review all letters and forms used in the WCA process – including the Limited Capability for Work Questionnaire (ESA50)

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Original call for evidence

Summary

The Department for Work and Pensions are seeking feedback and evidence about the effectiveness of the WCA and where further improvement is needed.

This call for evidence ran from
1 July 2013 to 11:45pm on 27 August 2013

Call for evidence description

The Department for Work and Pensions appointed Dr Paul Litchfield to undertake the fourth independent review of the Work Capability Assessment, as required by section 10 of the Welfare Reform Act 2007. This call for evidence was one of several methods used to gather information during the review. Evidence submitted was used to inform his independent review of the Work Capability Assessment , which was published on 12 December 2013.

Legislation requires that one further review will be undertaken in 2014.

Who is this call for evidence aimed at?

This call for evidence is intended for organisations and individuals who have information on how the Work Capability Assessment is operating and further changes that may be needed to improve the process.

The call for evidence is now closed

The call for evidence for the fourth independent review of the Work Capability Assessment is now closed.

However, you are still able to submit evidence by emailing wca.evidence@dwp.gsi.gov.uk. We will do our best to consider any evidence you send.

Thank you to everyone who offered evidence to help us assess how the Work Capability Assessment is operating.

More information

You can find more information about the reviews on the Work Capability Assessment independent reviews pages.

Alternative formats

Large print and Easy Read documents are available below.

Audio

Audio version

British Sign Language (BSL) version

BSL format

Documents

Fourth independent review of the Work Capability Assessment

Ref: ISBN 978-1-78153-575-2

PDF, 210 KB, 10 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email accessible.formats@dwp.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Fourth independent review of the Work Capability Assessment - Easy read

PDF, 495 KB, 20 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email accessible.formats@dwp.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Fourth independent review of the Work Capability Assessment - Large print

PDF, 74.5 KB, 13 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email accessible.formats@dwp.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Published 1 July 2013
Last updated 10 July 2013 + show all updates

1. 10 July 2013

   Added audio version.

2. 3 July 2013

   British Sign Language format added

3. 2 July 2013

   Large print version added.

4. 1 July 2013

   First published.