What to Say at Your WCA Assessment (Phone, Video or Face-to-Face)

After submitting your ESA50/UC50 form, you may be called for a WCA assessment. This is usually conducted by phone, but can be by video or face-to-face. The assessment is carried out by a healthcare professional (usually a nurse or physiotherapist) who will ask you questions about how your conditions affect your ability to work. Here is how to prepare.

What to expect

The assessment typically lasts 30-60 minutes. The assessor will ask about your health conditions, medication, daily routine, and how specific activities affect you. They are assessing you against the same 17 WCA activities and descriptors that your ESA50/UC50 form covers.

Before the assessment

• Re-read your ESA50/UC50 form. Your answers should be consistent with what you wrote.
• Prepare examples. For each activity, have a specific example ready of when you could not do it.
• Ask for a recording. You have the right to request that the assessment is audio-recorded. Do this in advance.
• Bring someone with you. You can have a companion present. They can take notes and provide moral support.

What to say

Describe your worst typical days. If the assessor asks "can you sit in a chair?" do not answer based on your best day. Answer based on what happens the majority of the time.

Use WCA language naturally. Work phrases like "the majority of the time," "significant discomfort," "I cannot do this reliably," and "in a workplace this would mean..." into your answers.

Be specific about consequences. Do not just say "it hurts." Say "after 20 minutes, the pain in my lower back becomes so severe that I need to lie down for at least 30 minutes before I can sit again."

Mention what happens afterwards. If doing something causes a crash, flare-up, or worsening of symptoms, describe the aftermath. "If I walk to the shops, I need to rest in bed for the rest of the day."

Common traps to avoid

• "How did you get here today?" This is not small talk - they are assessing your mobility and ability to get about. If someone drove you, say so. If the journey was difficult, explain how.
• "What did you have for breakfast?" They are assessing your ability to prepare food and initiate tasks. If someone else prepared it, or if you skipped breakfast because you could not manage, say so.
• "Do you have any hobbies?" Be careful. Saying "I watch TV" can be used to argue you can concentrate. Say "I try to watch TV but I cannot follow plots because of brain fog. I often just stare at the screen."
• Do not say "I manage." "I manage" implies you can do the activity. Say "I struggle significantly" or "I cannot do this reliably."

After the assessment

Make notes about what was asked and what you said as soon as possible after the assessment. If you feel the assessor did not accurately capture your difficulties, you can submit additional evidence before the decision is made. If the decision is unfavourable, you have one month to request a Mandatory Reconsideration.