Step by step advice leading up to, during and after your face-to-face assessment
Select one of the options below to go to the relevant section:
Those applying for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) may be sent a capability for work questionnaire, also known as an ESA50. It’s important you complete the form as fully as possible, answering all of the relevant questions.
It's important you return the form by the date on the letter you are sent. We will use the information you provide on the form to decide if you need to come in for an assessment or not.
You may also download the ESA50 form to your computer. If you use the online form, fill it out, print it, sign it and return it to DWP.
What to bring to the assessment
- Proof of identity
- Any medication you may be taking
- Any information from your General Practitioner (GP) or Specialist which explains how your condition affects you
If you’re claiming expenses, please bring details of your bank account if you have one.
Need help filling in the form?
You can speak to a dedicated advisor on our helpline by calling 0800 072 0222.
Select option 1 for the English language service, then option 2 for our advisory team.
Interpreters
Please let us know at least two days before your assessment if you need a language or BSL interpreter for your assessment. This will help to make sure that we can have an interpreter available for you.
Appointment arrangements
We will send a letter with your assessment date. Your appointment letter will have a contact number and information about the assessment, including directions to the Assessment Centre. Please read this letter before your assessment.
Find out more about your Assessment Centre here.
If you need help before your assessment, call our customer enquiries team on 0800 072 0222. The customer enquiries line is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 8pm, and Saturdays 9am to 5pm.
What happens with your support before your assessment
Whilst you are waiting for your assessment to be completed you will receive the standard rate of ESA and will need to continue attending the Jobcentre as agreed with your Work Coach.
Please note there are different factors for consideration which may impact your benefit entitlement. For more information go to gov.uk.
If you cannot return the form in time, let us know as soon as possible. There is also a box that allows you to explain why your form was late. If you have any concerns at all about the form, it’s important that you contact Capita as soon as you can or ask a representative to contact Capita.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) may not be able to continue to pay you benefits if we don’t receive this form in time.
You can find more information about Employment and Support Allowance on gov.uk.
Your ESA50 form may ask for details of the professionals or carers who know the most about your health conditions, illnesses and disabilities select the list below to see what these might be:
Remember – only send us copies of medical or other information if you already have them. Don’t ask or pay for new information or send us original documents. Please write your National Insurance number on each piece of information you send to us.
If you haven’t yet received an ESA50 form, it might be easier for you if you start to gather some of your medical information in advance. This form allows us to decide if you will need a face-to-face assessment.
The assessor will introduce themselves and explain the assessment to you. They’ll record information on a computer. Some questions may not relate directly to your medical condition, but to daily activities.
The assessment questions may include:
- When your illness or disability started
- How your condition changes from day-to-day
- How it affects your daily life
- How it affects your mood and the way you behave
- How you cope with things from day-to-day
The healthcare professional will record information about your pain, fatigue, and the medication you take.
Depending on your illness or disability the assessment may include:
- a physical examination
- blood pressure, sight, hearing or other tests
- movements such as stretching, standing and bending
The healthcare professional will not ask you to make any movements that cause you discomfort. If you are worried that certain movements may cause you pain, please tell the healthcare professional.
We provide the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) with an assessment report which is impartial and gives justified medical advice about how you are currently affected by your medical condition. This follows government legislation and the processes agreed by DWP.
Bringing a companion to your assessment
You are welcome to bring a relative, carer or friend with you. Although the assessment will focus on you, a companion can offer useful support to you. This would usually be the person who knows you best and understands you and your needs. For example, this may be a relative, support worker or friend but they must be 16 years old or over
Taking notes
You or your companion are welcome to take notes for your personal use. Your notes will not form part of the medical report that we send to DWP.
Waiting time and length of assessment
We’ll make sure you are seen as soon as possible. The receptionist will tell you if you have to wait.
Other people who arrive after you may go to their assessment before you. This is because we do several types of assessments, and some take longer than others. There is no set time for assessments, but they are usually between 20 minutes and 1 hour.
After your assessment our healthcare professional completes a report using criteria laid out by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). This is to provide the DWP decision-maker with an impartial, justified medical opinion about how you are affected by your medical condition.
The assessment report will describe your medical conditions and the activities you undertake in a typical day. It will also have the healthcare professional’s observations, and the results of any physical examination undertaken.
The report is one piece of information DWP uses in deciding your entitlement. The healthcare professional who carries out your assessment does not make any decision about your allowance, benefit or credits and will not know the outcome of your claim.
You may request a copy of the full report from DWP office handling your claim.
Decisions on claims
DWP will let you know of the outcome of your claim.
DWP makes decisions on claims. Direct any questions or concerns about the outcome of your claim to the DWP office handling your claim. They will know what information they have used to decide your entitlement. The Health Assessment Advisory Service will not be aware of this. We have no decision-making role.
Further information
If you have questions, contact the DWP office handling your claim. The office number will be on letters you have received about your claim.
For the Disability and Carers benefits, to get the correct number call 0845 712 3456. If you have speech or hearing difficulties, you can call them by text phone on 0845 722 4433.
Claiming expenses
Capita will pay expenses:
- For travel by public transport
- Towards fuel costs for private cars
- The cost of parking when it is not available at the assessment centre
We will also pay for fares of a companion, relative, carer or young children who would otherwise be alone. If you wish to claim for an authorised companion to travel with you, call us on 0800 072 0222 before the assessment and let us know.
To have your expenses paid, you will need to fill out and send an expense form. You may ask the receptionist at the Assessment Centre for help filling out the form. Please keep all your receipts. You should receive payment for your expenses approximately two weeks after you send the form.
