Work Capability Assessment (WCA) - The medical assessment

You may be expected to attend an assessment in person, or you might be assessed over the phone or on a video call.

If you don't attend the assessment, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) may decide that you are fit for work. If you cannot attend your assessment, it is important to contact the assessment centre as soon as possible to rearrange the appointment.

The healthcare professional should have read your WCA50 questionnaire. They should ask you questions about your typical day, your health conditions or disabilities and any problems you have.

Following this assessment, the healthcare professional will send their report to the DWP. The DWP will use this, along with other information you have provided, to make a decision about your WCA.

Audio recording

From June 2026, telephone and face-to-face assessments are automatically audio recorded. This includes assessments held at an assessment centre or in your home. Assessments completed through video call cannot be audio recorded.

You can choose not to have your assessment audio recorded. Tell the Health Assessment Advisory Service (HAAS) before your appointment by calling the number at the top of your letter, or tell the healthcare professional during the assessment. Choosing not to be audio recorded will not disadvantage your claim.

The audio recordings are done to ensure there is an accurate record of your assessment. It could be used to review how your assessment was conducted if there is a dispute.

You can ask for a copy of your audio recording during your assessment or afterwards. If you ask for a copy, you will normally receive a text message with a secure link to download it. The DWP will usually keep your recording for 24 months before it is deleted.

For more information, visit the GOV.UK Audio recordings at health assessments page.