Q10 - staying conscious when awake
This advice applies to England. See advice for See advice for Northern Ireland, See advice for Scotland, See advice for Wales
This question is on page 13 of the form - see what it looks like
How to answer the question
You should answer this question if you have an illness or disability that makes you lose consciousness, or one that affects your consciousness when you're awake, for example:
epilepsy
diabetes
narcolepsy (a condition that makes you fall asleep at inappropriate times)
severe migraines
Falling asleep as a result of a medical condition or as a result of treatment for a medical condition doesn't count as losing consciousness.
"While you are awake, how often do you faint or have fits or blackouts?"
Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Less than monthly
The DWP wants to know how often you have fits, seizures or blackouts or anything else that severely disrupts your awareness and concentration when you're awake.
They're not interested in what happens when you're asleep - whether at night or during the day.
You might not always completely lose consciousness when you have fits or seizures. It's still important to include them and say how they affect you.
What to write in the box
It's important you tell the DWP more by explaining your situation in the box.
You should explain:
if you have any warning that you're about to have a fit or seizure
if you've been taken to hospital - say how many times this has happened
how long it takes you to recover
if you're afraid to go out in case you have a fit or seizure
if you've injured yourself or had an accident during a fit or seizure, for example if you've hit your head
if your medication gives you side effects - say what they are and what you do about them
if you've lost your driving licence (or you've never had one) because of your illness or disability
Write down if, after losing consciousness, you:
need to take time to recover, such as going to bed
don't know how you'll feel - you may become aggressive or unpredictable
are unaware of what's going on around you
need someone to care for you
Louise says: "I control my diabetes pretty well but I do have hypos once every 2 or 3 weeks. When I go low I can usually feel it coming and I carry snacks and juice to catch it quickly, but more often than not it happens too fast.
My vision goes blurry and I don't really know what I'm doing - my partner says I talk rubbish and I slur. A couple of weeks ago it happened when I was on the way back from the shop and I collapsed in the street. I don't really know how long it lasts, but I feel teary and spaced out for a while afterwards."
How the DWP assess this question
The DWP look at a list of statements called 'descriptors'. They'll give you a number of points depending on which descriptor applies to you.
The DWP add together all the points you get from the whole form. This means you can qualify for ESA even if you don't get all the points for this question.
Descriptors for question 10
Descriptors | Points |
---|---|
Descriptors
10 (a) At least once a week, has an involuntary episode of lost or altered consciousness resulting in significantly disrupted awareness or concentration. |
Points
15 |
Descriptors
(b) At least once a month, has an involuntary episode of lost or altered consciousness resulting in significantly disrupted awareness or concentration. |
Points
6 |
Descriptors
(c) None of the above apply. |
Points
0 |
Next steps
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