Overview
From 26 April 2026, new Severe Conditions Criteria (SCC) rules change how much some disabled Universal Credit claimants receive.

These rules apply to people who are assessed as having Limited Capability for Work Related Activity (LCWRA).

Payment rates
Claimants with LCWRA who meet the SCC receive the full LCWRA element of £429.80 per month. This is the same rate paid to those awarded LCWRA before 26 April 2026.

Claimants with LCWRA who do not meet the SCC receive a reduced LCWRA element of £217.26 per month, which is around half of the full rate.

Who qualifies for SCC
To qualify for the Severe Conditions Criteria, you must meet strict conditions in addition to having LCWRA.

You must meet at least one of the functional LCWRA descriptors. If you are found to have LCWRA for non-functional reasons, such as substantial risk, you will not qualify for SCC.

A full list of the functional descriptors is provided at the end of this factsheet.

You must also show that your condition meets the required descriptor on an ongoing basis and will continue to do so for the rest of your life.

Current guidance used by DWP assessors has not been made public. However, previous guidance indicates the types of tests likely to be applied.

How the SCC is assessed

Step one: meeting a functional descriptor
You must meet at least one of the 16 functional LCWRA descriptors. Non-functional criteria, including substantial risk, do not count towards SCC.

Step two: the condition applies on an ongoing basis
The DWP appear to interpret this as meaning you would consistently be found to have LCWRA, rather than needing to meet the descriptor at every single moment. There is currently limited clarity on how this will be applied in practice.

Step three: the condition is lifelong
You must show that the relevant descriptor will apply for the rest of your life.

If there is a recognised treatment or cure available in the future, such as surgery, transplant, or joint replacement, your condition is unlikely to be considered lifelong.

Step four: confirmation within NHS records
Your diagnosis must be recorded within NHS records.

If you were diagnosed privately, this should still be accepted provided the diagnosis has been transferred into your NHS record.

LCWRA functional descriptors
[Descriptors 1–8 relate to physical conditions]

Mobilising unaided by another person with or without a walking stick, manual wheelchair or other aid if such aid is normally, or could reasonably be, worn or used.
Cannot either:
(i) mobilise more than 50 metres on level ground without stopping in order to avoid significant discomfort or exhaustion
or
(ii) repeatedly mobilise 50 metres within a reasonable timescale because of significant discomfort or exhaustion.

Transferring from one seated position to another.
Cannot move between one seated position and another seated position located next to one another without receiving physical assistance from another person.

Reaching.
Cannot raise either arm as if to put something in the top pocket of a coat or jacket.

Picking up and moving or transferring by the use of the upper body and arms (excluding standing, sitting, bending or kneeling and all other activities specified in this Schedule).
Cannot pick up and move a 0.5 litre carton full of liquid.

Manual dexterity.
Cannot press a button (such as a telephone keypad) with either hand or cannot turn the pages of a book with either hand.

Making self understood through speaking, writing, typing, or other means which are normally, or could reasonably be, used, unaided by another person.
Cannot convey a simple message, such as the presence of a hazard.

Understanding communication by—
(i) verbal means (such as hearing or lip reading) alone,
(ii) non-verbal means (such as reading 16-point print or Braille) alone, or
(iii) a combination of (i) and (ii),
using any aid that is normally, or could reasonably be, used, unaided by another person.
Cannot understand a simple message, such as the location of a fire escape, due to sensory impairment.

Absence or loss of control whilst conscious leading to extensive evacuation of the bowel and/or voiding of the bladder, other than enuresis (bed-wetting), despite the wearing or use of any aids or adaptations which are normally, or could reasonably be, worn or used.
At least once a week experiences:
(i) loss of control leading to extensive evacuation of the bowel and/or voiding of the bladder; or
(ii) substantial leakage of the contents of a collecting device sufficient to require cleaning and a change in clothing.

[Descriptors 9–14 relate to mental health and learning difficulties]

Learning tasks.
Cannot learn how to complete a simple task, such as setting an alarm clock, due to cognitive impairment or mental disorder.

Awareness of everyday hazards (such as boiling water or sharp objects).
Reduced awareness of everyday hazards leads to a significant risk of:
(i) injury to self or others; or
(ii) damage to property or possessions,
such that they require supervision for the majority of the time to maintain safety.

Initiating and completing personal action (which means planning, organisation, problem solving, prioritising or switching tasks).
Cannot, due to impaired mental function, reliably initiate or complete at least two sequential personal actions.

Coping with change.
Cannot cope with any change, due to cognitive impairment or mental disorder, to the extent that day to day life cannot be managed.

Coping with social engagement due to cognitive impairment or mental disorder.
Engagement in social contact is always precluded due to difficulty relating to others or significant distress experienced by the claimant.

Appropriateness of behaviour with other people, due to cognitive impairment or mental disorder.
Has, on a daily basis, uncontrollable episodes of aggressive or disinhibited behaviour that would be unreasonable in any workplace.

[These final two activities below have descriptors that relate to both physical and mental health/learning difficulties.]

Conveying food or drink to the mouth.
(a) Cannot convey food or drink to the claimant’s own mouth without receiving physical assistance from someone else; or
(b) Cannot convey food or drink to the claimant’s own mouth without repeatedly stopping, experiencing breathlessness or severe discomfort; or
(c) Cannot convey food or drink to the claimant’s own mouth without receiving regular prompting given by someone else in the claimant’s physical presence; or
(d) Owing to a severe disorder of mood or behaviour, fails to convey food or drink to the claimant’s own mouth without receiving—
(i) physical assistance from someone else; or
(ii) regular prompting given by someone else in the claimant’s presence.

Chewing or swallowing food or drink.
(a) Cannot chew or swallow food or drink; or
(b) Cannot chew or swallow food or drink without repeatedly stopping, experiencing breathlessness or severe discomfort; or
(c) Cannot chew or swallow food or drink without repeatedly receiving regular prompting given by someone else in the claimant’s presence; or
(d) Owing to a severe disorder of mood or behaviour, fails to:
(i) chew or swallow food or drink; or
(ii) chew or swallow food or drink without regular prompting given by someone else in the claimant’s presence.

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