The Full List of WCA50 / UC50 Descriptors (17 Activities & Points)

The Work Capability Assessment - whether you are on ESA or Universal Credit - scores you across 17 activities: 10 physical and 7 mental and cognitive. Each activity has a set of descriptors worth different points. This guide lists all 17, explains how the points work, and shows which routes reach the higher LCWRA / Support Group.

The 10 physical activities

1. Mobilising unaided - moving around, with or without aids (e.g. cannot mobilise 50, 100 or 200 metres).
2. Standing and sitting - remaining at a work station.
3. Reaching - with your arms.
4. Picking up and moving objects using the upper body and arms.
5. Manual dexterity - using hands, e.g. pressing buttons, using a pen or keyboard.
6. Making yourself understood - speaking, writing, typing or other means.
7. Understanding communication - verbal, written or otherwise.
8. Navigation and maintaining safety - getting around safely, e.g. with a visual impairment.
9. Continence - control of bladder or bowel.
10. Consciousness during waking moments (e.g. seizures).

The 7 mental, cognitive and intellectual activities

11. Learning tasks - how to do a task, simple or complex.
12. Awareness of hazards - everyday hazards and risk of danger.
13. Initiating and completing personal action - planning, starting and finishing tasks.
14. Coping with change - planned and unplanned change to routine.
15. Getting about - going to a familiar or unfamiliar place.
16. Coping with social engagement - due to cognitive impairment or mental disorder.
17. Behaving appropriately with other people.

What the points mean

Descriptors are generally worth 15, 9, 6 or 0 points depending on how severe the limitation is. Add up your single best descriptor from each activity across both categories:

• Under 15 points - not found to have limited capability for work on points alone (the substantial-risk rule can still apply).
• 15 points or more - Limited Capability for Work (LCW).

Reaching LCWRA (UC) or the Support Group (ESA)

The higher group is not reached by the points total. You reach it by one of three routes:

• Meeting a Schedule 3 descriptor (a separate, stricter list).
• Scoring 15 points on a single activity.
• The substantial-risk rule.

On Universal Credit this higher group is LCWRA (which pays the health element); on ESA it is the Support Group. See LCW vs LCWRA for the difference.

The reliability test applies to every descriptor

For any descriptor, you should be assessed as unable if you cannot do the activity reliably, repeatedly, safely, in a reasonable time, and for the majority of the time (more than half your days). "I can do it sometimes" is usually not the same as being able to do it to this standard - and that distinction is where a lot of points are won or lost on the WCA50.

Where to find the exact wording

The precise descriptor wording and points are set out in Schedule 2 (and the higher group in Schedule 3) of the assessment regulations. You can read them in full on legislation.gov.uk. ESAexpert matches your conditions to these descriptors automatically for every one of the 17 activities.

Frequently Asked Questions