New rules for getting disability payment of Universal Credit

Last year we were part of a big campaign against cuts to disability benefits. The government had to drop cuts to PIP and set up the PIP review instead. But their plan to cut the Universal Credit disability payment/”health element” for new claimants, was passed in the Universal Credit Act 2025 and came into force on 6 April 2026.

Here is some info, while we hope that this unjust two-tier system for sick and disabled claimants on UC will be challenged. These rules are new, so please do send us your experiences and tips.

For new claimants after 6 April, the amount added for Limited Capability for Work Related Activity (LCWRA), or unable to do any waged work or preparation for work, is now cut by half to £217 a month. This amount is frozen, that is, won’t increase next financial year.  Compared to £429.80 for pre-6 April claimants.  

Things to know:

• You still get the high amount of health element of Universal Credit if you come under a protected group, including if you are terminally ill or pass the Severe Conditions Criteria (more below).  The Severe Conditions Criteria existed before for a narrow group of very severely disabled people. But not as part of deciding who gets the cut rate for LCWRA, so nobody has experience of how they will be applied now, except that assessor companies and the DWP are harsh.  We expect there to be challenges as the injustice starts to bite.  
• Being in LCWRA still exempts you from work conditions for benefit, whatever rate you get.
• Disabled children’s amounts are not affected by this cut.
• The Limited Capability for Work (LCW — preparation for work) addition, for those who still get it from before the 2017 change, is not reduced, but is frozen.  This is £158.76 per month. This applies to disabled people doing compulsory back to work activities who claimed LCW before 3 April 2017.  They get £158.76 per month.  Being in LCW after 3 April 2017 you only get UC standard allowance, but claimants are under less strict work conditions.

Protected groups — who get higher rate

• Pre-6 April claimants
• People who pass the Severe Conditions Criteria
• People who claim under special rules for terminal illness who are not expected to live more than 12 months, and who can provide an SR1 or DS1500 form from their GP, and who should be fast-tracked to get the money quickly.

Rules for meeting the Severe Conditions Criteria to get health element higher rate:

Four things have to be satisfied (Regulation 40A, UC Regulations 2013):

1. Work Capability Assessment — LCWRA descriptors. You pass one or more of the LCWRA descriptors. You only need to pass one.  These are a second list alongside the main Work Capability Assessment descriptors. See them here
2. The LCWRA descriptor applies constantly – not some or most of the time.
3. Plus it applies for the rest of your life.
4. Your condition was diagnosed by a qualified NHS health professional under the NHS (not paid privately or done overseas).

If you meet all these, you will get the higher rate of LCWRA and you won’t be routinely reassessed.

How to apply

When you fill out the WCA50 form, explain how you meet the rules of the Severe Conditions Criteria. Keep these in mind for answering the questions.  You can use the ‘more information’ box to do this. See also: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/if-youre-sick-or-disabled/fill-in-the-work-capability-form-how-your-conditions-affect-you

Challenging refusal of SCC status

If you disagree with the DWP decision to refuse SCC status, the usual benefits decision process applies. Asking for mandatory reconsideration and then going to benefit appeal tribunal if needed.  At mandatory reconsideration, the DWP can look at the whole award again and may revise it down as well as up. For now, we don’t have direct experience of how this operates …. to be continued.