DWP warns claimants on 3 advantages they could get a cellphone name with some unhealthy information
A DWP minister said claimants will be told what action that will be taken
The Government has warned benefit claimants they may get a surprise phone call. This relates to claimants who need an assessment, in cases where there is an issue with this being processed. The DWP issued the update after a question from SNP MP Chris Law in Parliamentary about Work Capability Assessments (WCA).
These assessments are intended to determine how severely a person’s health condition affects their ability to work, to help work out how much benefit payments they should receive. Mr Law specifically asked about the number of existing claimants waiting for WCA appointments with provider Maximus, and how many people had experienced at least one cancelled assessment as of late October 2025.
He also asked for figures on how many had suffered at least two cancellations, and the figure for those facing more than two appointment cancellations. DWP minister Stephen Timms delivered a response.
He revealed that as of October 31, approximately 74,000 new benefit applicants and 40,000 existing claimants were waiting for WCA appointments with Maximus. These figures covered all claimants across Universal Credit, Employment Support Allowance and Incapacity Benefit who were awaiting their assessment.
The minister said: “These totals also encompass all claimants currently within Maximus’ caseload, including those at the questionnaire stage and those for whom further medical evidence is being gathered.” On the question of appointments being cancelled, Mr Timms said that this occurs very infrequently.
The minister made clear: “Very few people who are booked in for an assessment are not seen on the appointed day. However, on occasion unforeseen circumstances do arise, such as a claimant’s file has not been received, the health professional is unavailable due to illness, or there is a significant waiting time on the day.”
He went on to detail what happens when someone’s assessment has to be called off.
Phone calls to claimants
Mr Timms sad: “Maximus is required to make every possible effort to ensure the appointment can still go ahead before a cancellation is processed. If it is anticipated that a claimant cannot be seen on the day of their appointment, or the assessment is delayed, Maximus is required to make every effort to contact the claimant by telephone to apologise and explain the action that will be taken to rearrange the appointment.”
He also shared figures showing how many people waiting for their WCA had faced cancellations between September 9, 2024 and October 31, 2025. The figures revealed that 640 new applicants and 250 existing applicants had one appointment cancelled.
The data showed 60 new applicants and 20 existing applicants suffered two cancellations, while 10 new applicants experienced more than two cancellations, along with five existing applicants who were impacted by similar multiple cancellations. However, this last figure has been rounded up, with the real total being under five. Maximus has been contacted for comment.
