Employment and support allowance overview

(1)

Activity

(2)

Descriptors

(3)

Points

1. Walking with a walking stick or other aid if such aid is normally used.

(a)

Cannot walk at all.

(b)

Cannot walk more than 50 metres on level ground without repeatedly stopping or severe discomfort.

(c)

Cannot walk up or down two steps even with the support of a handrail.

(d)

Cannot walk more than 100 metres on level ground without stopping or severe discomfort.

(e)

Cannot walk more than 200 metres on level ground without stopping or severe discomfort.

(f)

None of the above apply.

2. Standing and sitting.

(a)

Cannot stand for more than 10 minutes, unassisted by another person, even if free to move around, before needing to sit down.

(b)

Cannot sit in a chair with a high back and no arms for more than 10 minutes before needing to move from the chair because the degree of discomfort experienced makes it impossible to continue sitting.

(c)

Cannot rise to standing from sitting in an upright chair without physical assistance from another person.

(d)

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

(e)

Cannot stand for more than 30 minutes, even if free to move around, before needing to sit down.

(f)

Cannot sit in a chair with a high back and no arms for more than 30 minutes without needing to move from the chair because the degree of discomfort experienced makes it impossible to continue sitting.

(g)

None of the above apply.

3. Bending or kneeling.

(a)

Cannot bend to touch knees and straighten up again.

(b)

Cannot bend, kneel or squat, as if to pick a light object, such as a piece of paper, situated 15cm from the floor on a low shelf, and to move it and straighten up again without the help of another person.

(c)

Cannot bend, kneel or squat, as if to pick a light object off the floor and straighten up again without the help of another person.

(d)

None of the above apply.

4. Reaching.

(a)

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

(b)

Cannot put either arm behind back as if to put on a coat or jacket.

(c)

Cannot raise either arm to top of head as if to put on a hat.

(d)

Cannot raise either arm above head height as if to reach for something.

(e)

None of the above apply.

5. Picking up and moving or transferring by the use of the upper body and arms (excluding all other activities specified in Part 1 of this Schedule).

(a)

Cannot pick up and move a 0.5 litre carton full of liquid with either hand.

(b)

Cannot pick up and move a one litre carton full of liquid with either hand.

(c)

Cannot pick up and move a light but bulky object such as an empty cardboard box, requiring the use of both hands together.

(d)

None of the above apply.

6. Manual dexterity.

(a)

Cannot turn a “star-headed” sink tap with either hand.

(b)

Cannot pick up a £1 coin or equivalent with either hand.

(c)

Cannot turn the pages of a book with either hand.

(d)

Cannot physically use a pen or pencil.

(e)

Cannot physically use a conventional keyboard or mouse.

(f)

Cannot do up/undo small buttons, such as shirt or blouse buttons.

(g)

Cannot turn a “star-headed” sink tap with one hand but can with the other.

(h)

Cannot pick up a £1 coin or equivalent with one hand but can with the other.

(i)

Cannot pour from an open 0.5 litre carton full of liquid.

(j)

None of the above apply.

7. Speech.

(a)

Cannot speak at all.

(b)

Speech cannot be understood by strangers.

(c)

Strangers have great difficulty understanding speech.

(d)

Strangers have some difficulty understanding speech.

(e)

None of the above apply.

8. Hearing with a hearing aid or other aid if normally worn.

(a)

Cannot hear at all.

(b)

Cannot hear well enough to be able to hear someone talking in a loud voice in a quiet room, sufficiently clearly to distinguish the words being spoken.

(c)

Cannot hear someone talking in a normal voice in a quiet room, sufficiently clearly to distinguish the words being spoken.

(d)

Cannot hear someone talking in a loud voice in a busy street, sufficiently clearly to distinguish the words being spoken.

(e)

None of the above apply.

9. Vision including visual acuity and visual fields, in normal daylight or bright electric light, with glasses or other aid to vision if such aid is normally worn.

(a)

Cannot see at all.

(b)

Cannot see well enough to read 16 point print at a distance of greater than 20cm.

(c)

Has 50% or greater reduction of visual fields.

(d)

Cannot see well enough to recognise a friend at a distance of a least 5 metres.

(e)

Has 25% or more but less than 50% reduction of visual fields.

(f)

Cannot see well enough to recognise a friend at a distance of at least 15 metres.

(g)

None of the above apply.

(a)

Continence other than enuresis (bed wetting) where the claimant does not have an artificial stoma or urinary collecting device.

(a)

(i)

Has no voluntary control over the evacuation of the bowel.

(a)

(ii)

Has no voluntary control over the voiding of the bladder.

(a)

(iii)

At least once a month loses control of bowels so that the claimant cannot control the full evacuation of the bowel.

(a)

(iv)

At least once a week, loses control of bladder so that the claimant cannot control the full voiding of the bladder.

(a)

(v)

Occasionally loses control of bowels so that the claimant cannot control the full evacuation of the bowel.

(a)

(vi)

At least once a month loses control of bladder so that the claimant cannot control the full voiding of the bladder.

(a)

(vii)

Risks losing control of bowels or bladder so that the claimant cannot control the full evacuation of the bowel or the full voiding of the bladder if not able to reach a toilet quickly.

(a)

(viii)

None of the above apply.

(b)

Continence where the claimant uses a urinary collecting device, worn for the majority of the time including an indwelling urethral or suprapubic catheter.

(b)

(i)

Is unable to affix, remove or empty the catheter bag or other collecting device without receiving physical assistance from another person.

(b)

(ii)

Is unable to affix, remove or empty the catheter bag or other collecting device without causing leakage of contents.

(b)

(iii)

Has no voluntary control over the evacuation of the bowel.

(b)

(iv)

At least once a month, loses control of bowels so that the claimant cannot control the full evacuation of the bowel.

(b)

(v)

Occasionally loses control of bowels so that the claimant cannot control the full evacuation of the bowel.

(b)

(vi)

Risks losing control of bowels so that the claimant cannot control the full evacuation of the bowel if not able to reach a toilet quickly.

(b)

(vii)

None of the above apply.

(c)

Continence other than enuresis (bed wetting) where the claimant has an artificial stoma.

(c)

(i)

Is unable to affix, remove or empty stoma appliance without receiving physical assistance from another person.

(c)

(ii)

Is unable to affix remove or empty stoma appliance without causing leakage of contents.

(c)

(iii)

Where the claimant’s artificial stoma relates solely to the evacuation of the bowel, at least once a week, loses control of bladder so that the claimant cannot control the full voiding of the bladder.

(c)

(iv)

Where the claimant’s artificial stoma relates solely to the evacuation of the bowel, at last once a month, loses control of bladder so that the claimant cannot control the full voiding of the bladder.

(c)

(v)

Where the claimant’s artificial stoma relates solely to the evacuation of the bowel, risks losing control of the bladder so that the claimant cannot control the full voiding of the bladder if not able to reach a toilet quickly.

(c)

(vi)

None of the above apply.

11. Remaining conscious during waking moments.

(a)

At least once a week, has an involuntary episode of lost or altered consciousness, resulting in significantly disrupted awareness or concentration.

(b)

At least once a month, has an involuntary episode of lost or altered consciousness, resulting in significantly disrupted awareness or concentration.

(c)

At least twice in the six months immediately preceding the assessment, has had an involuntary episode of lost or altered consciousness, resulting in significantly disrupted awareness or concentration.

(d)

None of the above apply.

SCHEDULE 3 ASSESSMENT OF WHETHER A CLAIMANT HAS LIMITED CAPABILITY FOR WORK-RELATED ACTIVITY

Column 1 Activity			Column 2 Descriptors
1. Walking or moving on level ground.			Cannot—
				(a)		walk (with a walking stick or other aid if such aid is normally used);
				(b)		move (with the aid of crutches if crutches are normally used); or
				(c)		manually propel the claimant’s wheelchair;
			more than 30 metres without repeatedly stopping, experiencing breathlessness or severe discomfort.
2. Rising from sitting and transferring from one seated position to another.			Cannot complete both of the following—
				(a)		rise to standing from sitting in an upright chair without receiving physical assistance from someone else; and
				(b)		move between one seated position and another seated position located next to one another without receiving physical assistance from someone else.
3. 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 0.5 litre carton full of liquid with either hand.
4. Reaching.			Cannot raise either arm as if to put something in the top pocket of a coat or jacket.
5. Manual dexterity.			Cannot—
				(a)		turn a “star-headed” sink tap with either hand; or
				(b)		pick up a £1 coin or equivalent with either hand.
6. Continence.
	(a)	Continence other than enuresis (bed wetting) where the claimant does not have an artificial stoma or urinary collecting device.			(a)	Has no voluntary control over the evacuation of the bowel;
					(b)	Has no voluntary control over the voiding of the bladder;
					(c)	At least once a week, loses control of bowels so that the claimant cannot control the full evacuation of the bowel;
					(d)	At least once a week, loses control of bladder so that the claimant cannot control the full voiding of the bladder;
					(e)	At least once a week, fails to control full evacuation of the bowel, owing to a severe disorder of mood or behaviour; or
					(f)	At least once a week, fails to control full-voiding of the bladder, owing to a severe disorder of mood or behaviour.
	(b)	Continence where the claimant uses a urinary collecting device, worn for the majority of the time including an indwelling urethral or suprapubic catheter.			(a)	Is unable to affix, remove or empty the catheter bag or other collecting device without receiving physical assistance from another person;
					(b)	Is unable to affix, remove or empty the catheter bag or other collecting device without causing leakage of contents;
					(c)	Has no voluntary control over the evacuation of the bowel;
					(d)	At least once a week loses control of bowels so that the claimant cannot control the full evacuation of the bowel; or
					(e)	At least once a week, fails to control full evacuation of the bowel, owing to a severe disorder of mood or behaviour.
	(c)	Continence other than enuresis (bed wetting) where the claimant has an artificial stoma appliance.			(a)	Is unable to affix, remove or empty stoma appliance without receiving physical assistance from another person;
					(b)	Is unable to affix, remove or empty stoma without causing leakage of contents;
					(c)	Where the claimant’s artificial stoma relates solely to the evacuation of the bowel, has no voluntary control over voiding of bladder;
					(d)	Where the claimant’s artificial stoma relates solely to the evacuation of the bowel, at least once a week, loses control of the bladder so that the claimant cannot control the full voiding of the bladder; or
					(e)	Where the claimant’s artificial stoma relates solely to the evacuation of the bowel, at least once a week, fails to control the full voiding of the bladder, owing to a severe disorder of mood or behaviour.
7. Maintaining personal hygiene.
					(a)	Cannot clean own torso (excluding own back) without receiving physical assistance from someone else;
					(b)	Cannot clean own torso (excluding back) without repeatedly stopping, experiencing breathlessness or severe discomfort;
					(c)	Cannot clean own torso (excluding back) without 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 clean own torso (excluding own back) without receiving—
						(i)	physical assistance from someone else; or
						(ii)	regular prompting given by someone else in the claimant’s presence.
8. Eating and drinking.
	(a)	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;
					(b)	Cannot convey food or drink to the claimant’s own mouth without repeatedly stopping, experiencing breathlessness or severe discomfort;
					(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.
	(b)	Chewing or swallowing food or drink.			(a)	Cannot chew or swallow food or drink;
					(b)	Cannot chew or swallow food or drink without repeatedly stopping, experiencing breathlessness or severe discomfort;
					(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.
9. Learning or comprehension in the completion of tasks.					(a)	Cannot learn or understand how to successfully complete a simple task, such as the preparation of a hot drink, at all;
					(b)	Needs to witness a demonstration, given more than once on the same occasion of how to carry out a simple task before the claimant is able to learn or understand how to complete the task successfully, but would be unable to successfully complete the task the following day without receiving a further demonstration of how to complete it; or
					(c)	Fails to do any of the matters referred to in (a) or (b) owing to a severe disorder of mood or behaviour.
10. Personal action.					(a)	Cannot initiate or sustain any personal action (which means planning, organisation, problem solving, prioritising or switching tasks);
					(b)	Cannot initiate or sustain personal action without requiring daily verbal prompting given by someone else in the claimant’s presence; or
					(c)	Fails to initiate or sustain basic personal action without requiring daily verbal prompting given by some else in the claimant’s presence, owing to a severe disorder of mood or behaviour.
11. Communication.					(a)	None of the following forms of communication can be achieved by the claimant—
						(i)	speaking (to a standard that may be understood by strangers);
						(ii)	writing (to a standard that may be understood by strangers);
						(iii)	typing (to a standard that may be understood by strangers);
						(iv)	sign language to a standard equivalent to Level 3 British Sign Language;
					(b)	None of the forms of communication referred to in (a) are achieved by the claimant, owing to a severe disorder of mood or behaviour;
					(c)	Misinterprets verbal or non-verbal communication to the extent of causing distress to himself or herself on a daily basis; or
					(d)	Effectively cannot make himself or herself understood to others because of the claimant’s disassociation from reality owing to a severe disorder of mood or behaviour.