(The words in bold have been highlighted be me to draw your attention to some key words and phrases in the descriptors)
PART 1: PHYSICAL
DISABILITIES
(1) Activity
(2) Descriptors
(3) Points
1. 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.
(a) Cannot, unaided by another person,
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.
15
(b) Cannot, unaided by another person,
mount or descend two steps even with the support of a handrail.
9
(c) Cannot, unaided by another person,
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.
9
(d) Cannot, unaided by another person,
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.
6
(e) None of the above applies.
0
2. Standing and sitting.
(a) Cannot move between one seated
position and another seated position which are located next to one
another without receiving physical assistance from another person.
15
(b) Cannot, for the majority of the
time, remain at a work station:(i) standing unassisted by another
person (even if free to move around); (ii) sitting (even in an
adjustable chair); or (iii) a combination of paragraphs (i) and
(ii), for more than 30 minutes
,
before needing to move away in order to avoid significant
discomfort or exhaustion.
9
(c) Cannot, for the majority of the
time, remain at a work station: (i) standing unassisted by another
person (even if free to move around); (ii) sitting (even in an
adjustable chair); or (iii) a combination of paragraphs (i) and
(ii), for more than an hour
before needing to move away in order to avoid significant
discomfort or exhaustion.
6
(d) None of the above applies.
0
3. Reaching.
(a) Cannot raise either
arm as if to put something in the top pocket of a coat or
jacket.
15
(b) Cannot raise either
arm to top of head as if to put on a hat.
9
(c) Cannot raise either
arm above head height as if to reach for something.
6
(d) None of the above applies.
0
4. Picking up and moving or
transferring by the use of the upper body and arms.
(a) Cannot pick up and move a 0.5
litre
carton full of liquid.
15
(b) Cannot pick up and move a one
litre
carton full of liquid.
9
(c) Cannot transfer a light
but bulky
object such as an empty
cardboard box.
6
(d) None of the above applies.
0
5. Manual dexterity.
(a) Cannot press a button (such as a
telephone keypad) with either
hand or cannot turn the pages of a book with
either
hand.
15
(b) Cannot pick up a £1 coin or
equivalent with either
hand.
15
(c) Cannot use a pen or pencil to make
a meaningful mark with either hand.
9
(d) Cannot single-handedly use a
suitable keyboard or mouse.
9
(e) None of the above applies.
0
6. Making self understood
through speaking, writing, typing, or other means which are
normally or could reasonably be used, unaided by another person.
(a) Cannot
convey a simple message, such as the presence of a hazard.
15
(b) Has significant
difficulty
conveying a simple message
to strangers.
15
(c) Has some
difficulty
conveying a simple message
to strangers.
6
(d) None of the above applies.
0
7. 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 sub-paragraphs
(i) and (ii), using any aid that is normally or could reasonably
be used, unaided by another person.
(a) Cannot
understand a simple message, such as the location of a fire
escape, due to sensory impairment.
15
(b) Has significant
difficulty understanding a simple message from a stranger due to
sensory impairment.
15
(c) Has some
difficulty understanding a simple message from a stranger due to
sensory impairment.
6
(d) None of the above applies.
0
8. Navigation and
maintaining safety using a guide dog or other aid if either or
both are normally used or could reasonably be used.
(a) Unable to navigate around familiar
surroundings, without being accompanied by another person, due
to sensory impairment.
15
(b) Cannot safely complete a potentially
hazardous
task such as crossing the
road, without being accompanied by another person, due to
sensory impairment.
15
(c) Unable to navigate around unfamiliar
surroundings, without being accompanied by another person, due
to sensory impairment.
9
(d) None of the above applies.
0
9. Absence or loss of
control whilst conscious leading to extensive evacuation of the
bowel and/or 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.
(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
.
15
(b) The majority
of the time
is 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
.
6
(c) Neither of the above applies.
0
10. Consciousness 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.
15
(b) At least once
a month
, has an involuntary episode
of lost or altered consciousness resulting in significantly
disrupted awareness or concentration.
6
(c) Neither of the above applies.
0
PART 2: MENTAL, COGNITIVE,
AND INTELLECTUAL FUNCTION
(1) Activity
(2) Descriptors
(3) Points
11. Learning tasks.
(a) Cannot learn how to complete a
simple task, such as setting an alarm clock.
15
(b) Cannot learn anything beyond
a
simple task
,
such as setting an alarm clock.
9
(c) Cannot learn anything beyond
a
moderately complex
task, such as the steps involved in operating a washing machine
to clean clothes.
6
(d) None of the above applies.
0
12. Awareness of everyday
hazards (such as boiling water or sharp objects).
(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 the
claimant requires supervision
for
the majority of the time
to maintain
safety.
15
(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 the
claimant frequently
requires supervision to maintain safety.
9
(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 the
claimant occasionally
requires supervision to maintain safety.
6
(d) None of the above applies.
0
13. Initiating and
completing personal action (which means planning, organisation,
problem solving, prioritising or switching tasks).
(a) Cannot
,
due to impaired mental function, reliably initiate or complete
at least two sequential personal actions.
15
(b) Cannot
,
due to impaired mental function, reliably initiate or complete
at least two sequential personal actions
for
the majority of the time
.
9
(c) Frequently
cannot
, due to impaired mental
function, reliably initiate or complete at least two sequential
personal actions.
6
(d) None of the above applies.
0
14. Coping with change.
(a) Cannot cope with any change to the
extent that day to day life cannot be managed
.
15
(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.
9
(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.
6
(d) None of the above applies.
0
15. Getting about.
(a) Cannot get to any place outside the
claimant’s home with which the claimant is familiar.
15
(b) Is unable to get to a specified
place with which the claimant is familiar
,
without being
accompanied by another
person
.
9
(c) Is unable to get to a specified
place with which the claimant is unfamiliar
without being
accompanied by another
person
.
6
(d) None of the above applies.
0
16. Coping with social
engagement due to cognitive impairment or mental disorder
(a) Engagement in social contact is always
precluded
due to difficulty relating
to others or significant distress experienced by the claimant.
15
(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 claimant.
6
(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 claimant.
6
(d) None of the above applies.
0
17. Appropriateness of
behaviour with other people, due to cognitive impairment or mental
disorder.
(a) Has, on a daily
basis
, uncontrollable episodes of
aggressive or disinhibited behaviour that would be unreasonable
in any workplace.
15
(b) Frequently
has uncontrollable episodes of aggressive or disinhibited
behaviour that would be unreasonable in any workplace.
15
(c) Occasionally
has uncontrollable episodes of aggressive or disinhibited
behaviour that would be unreasonable in any workplace.
9
(d) None of the above applies.
0


