You can get employment and support allowance (ESA) if your ability to work is limited by ill health or disability. ESA replaced both incapacity benefit (IB) and income support (IS) paid on the grounds of incapacity for new claims from 27 October 2008.
If you are claiming ESA you must:
To claim income based ESA you must
To claim contributory ESA you must
To claim contributory ESA in youth you must
Present means physically present in the UK. There are specific rules that allow you to be treated as present during a temporary absence. See the Disability Rights Handbook for further details.
Past presence means that you must have been present for a total of at least 26 weeks in the preceding 52 weeks before claiming. There are some exceptions to this. See the Disability Rights Handbook for details.
Ordinarily resident is not defined. It is taken to mean the place where you normally live for the time being if there is a degree of continuity about your stay and it can be described as being settled.
The term "right to reside" is not defined but is dependent on your immigration status and nationality. You might have a right to reside under United Kingdom rules, EC law or because you are a British citizen.
The habitual residence test is a test to see if you normally live in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Republic of Ireland or the Isle of Man. The test will be applied if you have been living abroad.
There is no legal definition of 'habitual residence'. Relevant factors are where you normally live, where you expect to live in future, your reasons for coming to this country, the length of time spent abroad before you came here, and any ties you still have with the country where you have come from.
However, the test should not be applied if someone:
If these do not apply, a Decision Maker (DM) will decide whether you are habitually resident or not. Get advice if you fail this test.
Periods of residence, insurance and employment in another European Economic Area country may help some claimants to get certain benefits. Reciprocal agreements between the UK and some other countries can include similar rules. See the Disability Rights Handbook for details.
When you make a claim for ESA you have to have an initial assessment. This assessment usually takes place over 13 weeks, but can be longer. During the assessment phase you will undergo a work capability assessment and a work focused interview.
The ESA work capability assessment (WCA) is carried out by a health care professional working on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions. It is intended to:
The limited capability for work test decides whether or not you remain on ESA. If you do not pass the test, because you are not considered to have a limited capability for work, you would need to consider appealing this decision or claiming jobseeker’s allowance instead.
If you appeal you can continue to receive the basic allowance of ESA until a decision is made on your appeal by a tribunal.
For this test you are assessed on your ability to carry out 17 listed physical or 'mental, cognitive and intellectual' activities. Points are awarded on the basis of your limitations with respect to each activity. These points are totalled up and if the total reaches the threshold of 15, you are deemed to have limited capability for work and thus stay on ESA.
Within each type of activity there is a list of descriptors with associated scores ranging from 0 to 15. The descriptors describe related tasks of varying degrees of difficulty. You score when you are not able to perform the activity described. Though more than one descriptor may apply to you, you can only pick up one score from each type of activity; in each case whichever scores the highest.
If you score 15 in any one activity, you automatically pass the test. If your score is less than 15, it can be added to the scores you pick up from any of the other types of activity (in both the physical and the mental parts of the test). If your total score reaches 15, you pass the test.
The physical activities
The physical functions in the limited capability for work test are grouped into 10 different types of activity. These are:
The assessment takes into account your abilities when using any aid or appliance you would normally use.
The mental,cognitive and intellectual activities
These functions in the limited capability for work test are grouped into sets of activities under the following 7 headings:
For a full list of activities, descriptors and points see appendix 1 or the DWP’s A guide to Employment and Support Allowance – The Work Capability Assessment (ESA214) available at http://tinyurl.com/33gxgky.
You will be automatically treated as having a limited capability for work in the following circumstances:
The second test within the WCA considers whether you have a ‘limited capability for work-related activity’. Though the wording may seem similar to that of the first test, the second test has a very different function. It is used to determine whether you are placed in the support group of claimants or the work-related activity group.
Which of these groups you are placed in will determine both the level of ESA that you will receive and the responsibilities you will need to meet in order to retain the benefit. The test has a list of activities and descriptors, relating to both physical and mental, cognitive or intellectual functions. If you satisfy at least one of them you will be placed in the support group of claimants.
The descriptors are grouped together under the following 16 activity headings:
The assessment takes into account your abilities when using any aid or appliance you would normally use.
For a full list of activities, descriptors and points see appendix 2 or the DWP’s A guide to Employment and Support Allowance – The Work Capability Assessment (ESA214) available at http://tinyurl.com/33gxgky.
You can be automatically treated as having a limited capability for work-related activity if you are:
In order to apply the tests for limited capability for work and limited capability for work-related activity a decision maker will first look at the information that you have provided in your initial claim for ESA to see if you pass these tests without the need for further enquiries.
If the decision maker considers that there is not enough information to make a decision you will normally be sent Limited capability for work questionnaire (ESA50) to complete. This form has a number of questions about the activities listed above. Each activity has a section with tick-boxes and space to provide more detailed information about each activity.
The time limit for completing and returning form ESA50 is four weeks.
Once the decision maker has received your completed ESA50 they may decide that there is clear evidence that you have limited capability for work (and possibly work-related activity). If not, you will be sent an appointment to attend a face to face assessment carried out by an approved disability analyst.
The disability analyst will have read a copy of the ESA50 form that you have completed and at the face to face assessment they will be trying to identify whether or not your account, in that form, of your functional limitations corresponds with their findings.
They will ask you a series of questions, relating to both your physical and mental, cognitive or intellectual capabilities, guided by what you have put down on the ESA50. Once they have finished this, they will then give you a physical examination.
The decisions on whether or not you have limited capability for work and limited capability for work-related activity will not, however, be taken by the disability analyst. He or she will complete an ESA85 medical report form which will be sent to a decision maker, who will make these two decisions.
The report form also has recommendations as to when you should be retested for limited capability for work and limited capability for work-related activity.
Even if the decision maker decides that you do not pass the limited capability for work test they can still treat you as having passed it if the health care professional has obtained evidence that one of the following exceptional circumstances apply:
You are expected to attend an initial ‘work-focused interview’, unless you are terminally ill. This will normally take place during the 8th week of your ESA claim. At this interview a ‘personal adviser’ will discuss your work prospects, the steps that you are willing to take to move into work and the support available to you. For more information on this see our Disability Rights Handbook.
The interview can be waived if you are likely to be starting a job or returning to work. The personal adviser can also defer an interview if, because of your condition, it would be inappropriate at that particular time.
Whether you have to attend further interviews will depend on whether you are placed in the work related activity or support groups (see 10 and 11).
Some people are not required to take part in these interviews such as those in the support group, those who have reached the qualifying age for pension credit and those under 18 (who will have a learning focused interview with Connexions).
You will need to have paid enough National Insurance contributions in specific tax years to satisfy this test. If you do pass the test you will receive a flat-rate benefit payment for yourself.
Contributory ESA (CESA) has no age-related additions or additions for dependants (such as your wife, husband, civil partner or child) premiums or allowances for housing costs. In order to get additions for your partner, additional premiums or housing costs you will need to also satisfy the low income test (see 7).
If you need extra money to look after a child, you should claim child tax credit.
The amount of contributory ESA you get will be reduced if you have an occupational pension of over £85 per week. There are some exceptions to this rule. For more information see our Disability Rights Handbook.
Some people may get contributory ESA without having had to satisfy the contribution conditions (CESA(Y)) if they had made a claim before they were 20 ( or before they were 25 if you have been in education or training).
Since April 2012 a time limit of 1 year now applies to certain Contributory ESA claimants. See Section 14.1 of this factsheet for more details. At the same time new claims for CESA(Y) have been abolished. See Section 14.2 of this factsheet.
This is a test similar to income support. In brief, your needs (and those of your partner if you have one) are compared with your resources, such as your income and savings, and the income-related allowance worked out from this comparison.
You cannot get income-related ESA if your capital or savings (or you and your partner's capital or savings) is above an upper savings limit of £16,000.
Your benefit will also be affected if your capital or savings (or you and your partner's capital or savings) is above a lower savings limit of £6,000. If you are permanently in a care home this lower limit is £10,000.
If you need extra money to look after a child, you should claim child tax credit.
If it is decided that you have a limited capability for work-related activity, you will be placed in the support group of claimants. If you are placed in this group, you will not have to undertake work-related activities (though you can volunteer to do so if you want).
If it is decided that you do not have a limited capability for work-related activity, you will be placed in the work-related activity group of claimants. You will have to adhere to strict work-related conditions in order to continue receiving the benefit in full. This may involve attending further work-focused interviews in addition to the initial work-focused interview.
These interviews will normally take place each month and at them the personal adviser will try to help you back into work. The adviser will draw up an ‘action plan’, which will outline the activities that you could undertake to help you move into work.
You cannot be required, as part of a work related activity, to apply for a job, undertake paid work or voluntary work or undergo medical treatment.
You will also not be required to take part in work related activity if:
If you are a lone parent and you have a child under the age of 5 or you receive carers allowance you will still have to attend an initial work focused interview (see paragraph 7).
If you are a lone parent with a child under the age of 13 you may only be required to undertake work related activity during the child’s normal school hours.
Both the initial work-focused interview and the follow-up interviews are mandatory. If you fail to either attend or participate in a work-focused interview, your ESA may be paid at a reduced rate or ‘sanctioned’. Sanctions can only be applied to the additional payments of ESA, not the basic allowance. Hence sanctions can only be applied when the assessment phase of the benefit is over.
You can appeal using form GL24. There is a one month appeal deadline from the decision date.
At some point between now and March 2014, if you are on incapacity benefit, you will be reassessed under the Work Capability Assessment instead of the personal capability assessment. The Work Capability Assessment is the test for employment and support allowance (ESA).
If you are found to have a limited capability for work in this assessment, you will be moved (migrated) onto employment and support allowance.
You can find out more at our IB migration page at www.disabilityrightsuk.org/ibmigration.htm.
You can view the current benefit rates for ESA on our website at www.disabilityrightsuk.org/benefitrates.htm. There is also detailed information on benefits rates in the Disability Rights Handbook.
During the assessment phase you are paid a ‘basic allowance’. This is set at a similar level to that of jobseeker’s allowance. If you are aged under 25 you will receive a reduced rate of this basic allowance. Once you have completed the assessment period the reduction for under 25s does not apply.
If you are on contribution related ESA you will only get an allowance for yourself. If you are on income-related ESA you also may get allowances for your partner, if you have one, as well as additional premiums (pensioner, severe disability, carer and enhanced disability premiums). There is no disability premium with ESA.
You can also claim for your housing costs. Housing costs are help with the payment of mortgage interest plus other allowed costs. If you find work and are on income related ESA your housing costs can continue for four weeks. For more information about housing costs see Disability Rights UK's Disability Rights Handbook.
After the assessment phase you can receive one of two additional payments depending on whether you are placed in the work-related activity group or the support group.
If you are placed in the work-related activity group you will receive a work related activity component of £28.15 included in your payment.
If you are placed in the support group you will receive a support component of £34.05 included in your payment. If you are terminally ill this component will be paid to you during the assessment phase.
If you are aged under 25 you will no longer be paid a reduced rate of the basic allowance.
Everyone in the support group, who is on income-related ESA, gets the enhanced disability premium.
You can get extra amounts in the form of premiums if you satisfy certain conditions.
You can get any or all of the following premiums if you satisfy the rules for them:
carer premium
enhanced disability premium
pensioner premium
severe disability premium
You or you partner must be entitled to carer's allowance, even if you are not actually paid it because you receive another benefit. This premium is payable for each person who qualifies.
You or your partner must satisfy one of the following:
If you have a partner you will be paid the couple rate of this premium.
This is paid if you or your partner have reached the qualifying age for pension credit. If you have a partner you will be paid a higher couple rate of this premium.
You or your partner must satisfy all of the following:
There is a couple rate if both of you qualify.
For more information on employment and support allowance premiums see the latest Disability Rights Handbook.
You cannot get income-related ESA if your capital or savings (or you and your partner's capital or savings) is above £16,000. Your benefit will be affected if your capital or savings (or you and your partner's capital or savings) are above £6,000 (£10,000 if you live permanently in a care home).
If your capital is between the lower and upper limits, a ‘tariff income’ is assumed: one pound a week for every £250 (or part of £250) above the lower limit is included as your income.
For example, if you have capital of between £6,250.01 and £6,500, £2 a week is included as your income. Each time capital gets into the next block of £250 (even by as little as one penny) an additional £1 is included as income.
You should phone the national contact centre:
Telephone: 0800 0 55 66 88
Textphone: 0800 0 23 48 88 (i)
Welsh language: 0800 0 12 18 88
Lines are open from 8:00 am - 6:00 pm, Monday to Friday. Charges may apply to calls from mobile phones, but the contact centre will call the customer back if requested.
You can also get a claim form (ESA1) from your local Department for Work and Pensions office or Jobcentre Plus office or download it from the DirectGov website at http://tinyurl.com/6fs4537.
You will also be expected to provide medical certificates from your doctor, known as fit notes, until you have passed the limited capability for work test. If you are claiming contributory ESA because you are under 20/25 these fit notes must also cover the 196 day period).
If you are working but do not get statutory sick pay you will also need to send in form SSP1 as well as a fit note. You can get this form from your employer.
From 1 May 2012, if you are in the work related activity group (WRAG) you can only get contribution based ESA for one year. This time limit includes any time you were getting contribution based ESA before April 2012.
Depending upon your family income and/or capital levels, it is possible that when your contribution based ESA ends, you will become entitled to one or more means tested benefits such as income related ESA, housing benefit or council tax benefit.
For more information on these benefits, see section 9 above on income related ESA and Factsheet F43 - help with council tax or Factsheet F44 - housing benefit.
The DWP has published information on this online at www.dwp.gov.uk/adviser/updates/changes-to-contribution/.
From 1 May 2012 you cannot claim CESA(Y). If you were already getting CESA(Y) at that date you can continue to be paid ESA it but only for one year from the time your entitlement began. This includes any time you were getting CESA(Y) before April 2012. Note any time you spent in the support group does not count towards this time limit.
The DWP has published information on this online at www.dwp.gov.uk/adviser/updates/changes-to-contribution/.
If you are a student you can claim contributory ESA if you have paid enough national insurance (NI) contributions, or satisfy the rules for claimants under 20/25. You will still have to satisfy the limited capability for work test.
If you are aged 16, 17 or 18 you will usually be excluded from claiming contributory ESA if you are still at school or in full-time education of 21 hours or more a week. Lunch breaks, breaks between lessons, free periods, and periods of private (unsupervised) study or homework do not count.
From age 19 there are no rules that limit the hours and type of study you can do.
When adding up the number of hours that you study each week, you should ignore 'any instruction or tuition which is not suitable for persons of the same age who do not have a disability'.
As a full time advanced or non-advanced student, you can only get ESA on grounds of low income (income-related ESA) if you are getting disability living allowance (DLA).
If you are 20 years old or over and you get DLA, you automatically count as having limited capability for work. If you are in advanced education, whether under or over 19, you will also automatically count as having limited capability for work if you get DLA. You will still be assessed under the limited capability for work-related activity test, which decides whether you are in the support group or the work-related activity group.
On the other hand, if you are a ‘qualifying young person’, you will have to satisfy the limited capability for work test in the usual way (see paragraph 6.1 above).
The definition of a ‘qualifying young person’ is the same as that for the child benefit rules and is as follows. Please note that someone does not have to be getting child benefit for you in order for you to count as a ‘qualifying young person’:
This is a young person under the age of 20 and in one of the following:
You cannot get child benefit for a young person if he or she receives employment and support allowance, income support, income-based jobseeker’s allowance, incapacity benefit or any tax credit.
If you are a part-time student you can claim contributory ESA if you have paid enough national insurance (NI) contributions, or for those who already have a claim in place, satisfy the rules for claimants under 20/25. You can also claim income-related ESA if you are on a low income. You do not have to be receiving DLA.
Whether your course is full or part-time usually depends on how it is classed by the institution. However, if you are on a course of government-funded further education in England or Wales it is full-time if it involves more than 16 guided learning hours a week. In Scotland, it is still full-time if structured learning packages make up the hours to over 16 a week, up to a maximum of 21 hours a week. You will have to pass the limited capability for work test.
If you are receiving incapacity benefit (IB) or income support (IS) paid on the grounds of incapacity you will continue to receive those benefits, rather than ESA, for the time being.
At some point between now and March 2014 you will be reassessed under the Work Capability Assessment instead of the personal capability assessment. The Work Capability Assessment is the test for employment and support allowance (ESA).
If you are found to have a limited capability for work in this assessment, you will be moved (migrated) onto employment and support allowance.
You might have preserved rights regarding your rate of ESA when you migrate. If you receive more on existing incapacity benefits than the appropriate ESA rate, you will receive your old rate as ESA but this will be frozen at the point of migration until the ESA rate catches up.
Those getting incapacity benefit who are moved onto contributory ESA , and who are in the work-related activity group, will have their benefit time limited to 12 months from the point of conversion. This applies whether reassessment took place before or after April 2012.
You can find out more at our IB migration page at www.disabilityalliance.org/ibmigration.htm.
In some cases, it is possible to work and to get ESA. This comes under the heading of ‘permitted working’ rules.
Please see our Factsheet F35 - work for people who are sick and disabled for details of the special rules on ‘permitted work’.
This factsheet is a basic overview of employment and support allowance. You can find out more detailed information in our Disability Rights Handbook available at www.radar-shop.org.uk/.
You can get help and information at your local advice centre, such as a Citizens Advice Bureau. You can get more information about where to get personal advice from our Factsheet F15 - Getting advice.
All our publications are available from our shop at www.radar-shop.org.uk/. You can also place an order by contacting Disability Rights UK on 020 7247 8776 (this is not an advice line) or by fax on 020 7247 8765. All our factsheets are available at www.disabilityrightsuk.org/factsheets.htm.
The DirectGov website has a page on the Work Capability Assessment which has a link to the Limited capability for work questionnaire (ESA50). This is available at http://tinyurl.com/5vurpcs.
9 May 2012
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1(a) 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.
Score 15
1(b) Cannot mount or descend two steps unaided by another person even with the support of a handrail. Score 9
1(c) Cannot either:
(i) mobilise more than 100 metres on level ground without stopping in order to avoid significant discomfort or exhaustion;
or
(ii) repeatedly mobilise 100 metres within a reasonable timescale because of significant discomfort or exhaustion.
Score 9
1(d) Cannot either:
(i) mobilise more than 200 metres on level ground without stopping in order to avoid significant discomfort or exhaustion;
or
(ii) repeatedly mobilise 200 metres within a reasonable timescale because of significant discomfort or exhaustion.
Score 6
1(e) None of the above apply. Score 0
2(a) Cannot move between one seated position and another seated position located next to one another without receiving physical assistance from another person. Score 15
2(b) Cannot, for the majority of the time, remain at a work station, either:
(i) standing unassisted by another person (even if free to move around); or
(ii) sitting (even in an adjustable chair)
for more than 30 minutes, before needing to move away in order to avoid significant discomfort or exhaustion. Score 9
2(c) Cannot, for the majority of the time, remain at a work station, either:
(i) standing unassisted by another person (even if free to move around); or
(ii) sitting (even in an adjustable chair)
for more than an hour before needing to move away in order to avoid significant discomfort or exhaustion. Score 6
2(d) None of the above apply Score 0
3(a) Cannot raise either arm as if to put something in the top pocket of a coat or jacket. 15
3(b) Cannot raise either arm to top of head as if to put on a hat. Score 9
3(c) Cannot raise either arm above head height as if to reach for something. Score 6
3(d) None of the above apply. Score 0
4(a) Cannot pick up and move a 0.5 litre carton full of liquid. Score 15
4(b) Cannot pick up and move a one litre carton full of liquid. Score 9
4(c) Cannot transfer a light but bulky object such as an empty cardboard box. Score 6
4(d) None of the above apply. Score 0
5(a) Cannot either:
(i) press a button, such as a telephone keypad; or
(ii) turn the pages of a book
with either hand. Score 15
5(b) Cannot pick up a £1 coin or equivalent with either hand. Score 15
5(c) Cannot use a pen or pencil to make a meaningful mark. Score 9
5(d) Cannot use a suitable keyboard or mouse. Score 9
5(e) None of the above apply. Score 0
6(a) Cannot convey a simple message, such as the presence of a hazard. Score 15
6(b) Has significant difficulty conveying a simple message to strangers. Score 15
6(c) Has some difficulty conveying a simple message to strangers. Score 6
6(d) None of the above apply. Score 0
7(a) Cannot understand a simple message due to sensory impairment, such as the location of a fire escape. Score 15
7(b) Has significant difficulty understanding a simple message from a stranger due to sensory impairment. Score 15
7(c) Has some difficulty understanding a simple message from a stranger due to sensory impairment. Score 6
7(d) None of the above apply. Score 0
8(a) Unable to navigate around familiar surroundings, without being accompanied by another person, due to sensory impairment. Score 15
8(b) Cannot safely complete a potentially hazardous task such as crossing the road, without being accompanied by another person, due to sensory impairment. Score 15
8(c) Unable to navigate around unfamiliar surroundings, without being accompanied by another person, due to sensory impairment. Score 9
8(d) None of the above apply. Score 0
9(a) At least once a month 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. Score 15
9(b) At risk of loss of control leading to extensive evacuation of the bowel and/or voiding of the bladder, sufficient to require cleaning and a change in clothing, if not able to reach a toilet quickly. Score 6
9(c) None of the above apply. Score 0
10(a) At least once a week, has an involuntary episode of lost or altered consciousness resulting in significantly disrupted awareness or concentration. Score 15
10(b) At least once a month, has an involuntary episode of lost or altered consciousness resulting in significantly disrupted awareness or concentration. Score 6
10(c) None of the above apply. Score 0.
11(a) Cannot learn how to complete a simple task, such as setting an alarm clock. Score 15
11(b) Cannot learn anything beyond a simple task, such as setting an alarm clock. Score 9
11(c) Cannot learn anything beyond a moderately complex task, such as the steps involved in operating a washing machine to clean clothes. Score 6
11(d) None of the above apply. Score 0
12(a) 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. Score 15
12(b) 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 frequently require supervision to maintain safety. Score 9
12(c) 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 occasionally require supervision to maintain safety. Score 6
12(d) None of the above apply. Score 0
13(a) Cannot, due to impaired mental function, reliably initiate or complete at least 2 sequential personal actions. Score 15
13(b) Cannot, due to impaired mental function, reliably initiate or complete at least 2 personal actions for the majority of the time. Score 9
13(c) Frequently cannot, due to impaired mental function, reliably initiate or complete at least 2 personal actions. Score 6
13(d) None of the above apply. Score 0
14(a) Cannot cope with any change to the extent that day to day life cannot be managed. Score 15
14(b) Cannot cope with minor planned change (such as a pre-arranged change to the routine time scheduled for a lunch break), to the extent that overall day to day life is made significantly more difficult. Score 9
14(c) Cannot cope with minor unplanned change (such as the timing of an appointment on the day it is due to occur), to the extent that overall, day to day life is made significantly more difficult. Score 6
14(d) None of the above apply. Score 0
15(a) Cannot get to any specified place with which the claimant is familiar. Score 15
15(b) Is unable to get to a specified place with which the claimant is familiar, without being accompanied by another person. Score 9
15(c) Is unable to get to a specified place with which the claimant is unfamiliar without being accompanied by another person. Score 6
15(d) None of the above apply. Score 0
16(a) Engagement in social contact is always precluded due to difficulty relating to others or significant distress experienced by the individual. Score 15
16(b) Engagement in social contact with someone unfamiliar to the claimant is always precluded due to difficulty relating to others or significant distress experienced by the individual. Score 9
16(c) Engagement in social contact with someone unfamiliar to the claimant is not possible for the majority of the time due to difficulty relating to others or significant distress experienced by the individual. Score 6
16(d) None of the above apply. Score 0
17(a) Has, on a daily basis, uncontrollable episodes of aggressive or disinhibited behaviour that would be unreasonable in any workplace. Score 15
17(b) Frequently has uncontrollable episodes of aggressive or disinhibited behaviour that would be unreasonable in any workplace. Score 15
17(c) Occasionally has uncontrollable episodes of aggressive or disinhibited behaviour that would be unreasonable in any workplace. Score 9
17(d) None of the above apply. Score 0.
Cannot either:
(a)mobilise more than 50 metres on level ground without stopping in order to avoid significant discomfort or exhaustion; or
(b)repeatedly mobilise 50 metres within a reasonable timescale because of significant discomfort or exhaustion.
Cannot move between one seated position and another seated position located next to one another without receiving physical assistance from another person.
Cannot raise either arm as if to put something in the top pocket of a coat or jacket.
Cannot pick up and move a 0.5 litre carton full of liquid.
Cannot either:
(a) press a button, such as a telephone keypad; or
(b)turn the pages of a book
with either hand.
Cannot convey a simple message, such as the presence of a hazard.
Cannot understand a simple message due to sensory impairment, such as the location of a fire escape.
At least once a week experiences:
(a)loss of control leading to extensive evacuation of the bowel and/or voiding of the bladder; or
(b)substantial leakage of the contents of a collecting device
sufficient to require the individual to clean themselves and change clothing.
Cannot learn how to complete a simple task, such as setting an alarm clock, due to cognitive impairment or mental disorder.
Reduced awareness of everyday hazards, due to cognitive impairment or mental disorder, leads to a significant risk of:
(a)injury to self or others; or
(b)damage to property or possessions
such that they require supervision for the majority of the time to maintain safety.
Cannot, due to impaired mental function, reliably initiate or complete at least 2 sequential personal actions.
Cannot cope with any change, due to cognitive impairment or mental disorder, to the extent that day to day life cannot be managed.
Engagement in social contact is always precluded due to difficulty relating to others or significant distress experienced by the individual.
Has, on a daily basis, uncontrollable episodes of aggressive or disinhibited behaviour that would be unreasonable in any workplace.
(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.
(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.